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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to have become a bit obsessed with this house?

216 replies

dreamhouse2020 · 09/12/2020 12:06

Like many of us, I like a bit of fantasy house shopping on Rightmove.

I am planning to move but in 3-5 years so not just yet.

I've found a house I really like. Really really like. Thing is, it's not my 'dream' house. It has a nice garden (plot in total is half an acre) but it's not surrounded by masses of land. It's not a beautiful old manor house or cute country cottage. But there's something about it that has drawn me in. I have viewed the Rightmove page 100s of times now. It's not far from my DP so we took a drive out to it and nosed through the windows (it's an estate sale, vacant possession) and that made me love it even more.

I can't buy it yet as we simply couldn't raise the money needed, I have about 25% in cash but I don't earn enough to get a mortgage for the rest on my own, and DP pays himself only just above min wage. Plus it needs money spending on it, and neither of us are in a position to move right now. If it was for sale in 3 years time that would be perfect.

So I know it's not meant to be, but still...I really need to find a distraction (this was a distraction from being sad about lockdown, working from home, feeling isolated etc but has now become an obsession. Every day I check that it's not been sold!). Any suggestions? - other than hoping for a lottery win/ mystery inheritance.

OP posts:
Mumdiva99 · 09/12/2020 12:32

Do you have young kids? - that pond would be a nightmare for them....

A others said - needs money spent on it - extension to increase the size of the kitchen and dining room and an ensuite bathroom upstairs, maybe make the bedrooms larger.

However, if it's in a perfect location for you then do what was suggested above......

I can see what you like. As someone that was in your situation for many years.....wanting to move but not quite ready...... when the time finally came there were lots of houses to chose from. Ours isn't 100% perfect - but it is a million times better than where we were (not in terms of area....just suitability for our needs.)

RunningFromInsanity · 09/12/2020 12:32

The outside is really nice and the rooms seem big, but the kitchen shape and style is awful and only one bathroom with 4 bedrooms?

GoodbyePorpoiseSpit · 09/12/2020 12:33

Really lovely house!

Curioushorse · 09/12/2020 12:35

(I’d write a story about it. There’s lots of things which spring to mind- none of them cheery, I feel. If you’re feeling obsessed by it, why don’t you write your obsession away?)

stealthninjamummy · 09/12/2020 12:36

Op, I’m the same. I have been admiring an old house on Rightmove for two years. It’s a period house and needs a lot of cosmetic work but to me it seems unbelievably cheap for the size. I can only assume there is a massive problem like damp or subsidence that is making it unsellable because I can’t believe no one would see it’s potential other than me.

Sceptre86 · 09/12/2020 12:37

I like it a lot, it has huge potential and could be amazing!

ElizaLaLa · 09/12/2020 12:37

It reminds me of the house in Luther.

lofthouse · 09/12/2020 12:40

I know what you mean about becoming obsessed - I felt that about two houses we saw and lost out on. We are now in a house we adore - I can assure you that the obsession goes away and that you realise why that perfect house wasn't right for you. We occasionally drive past the two we lost out on and amuse ourselves about all the reasons why they wouldn't have worked for us !

PickAChew · 09/12/2020 12:41

It has the makings of a cracking house but would definitely need a fair bit of money spent on it.

burritofan · 09/12/2020 12:43

That’s my budget but I won’t nab it from you, OP, not my bag. I think the garden setting really sells it – but a natural-looking pond is a fairly easy if labour-intensive DIY, my parents did one in their garden and it looks lovely.

My Rightmove saved list is currently absolutely chocka with bargain basement fixer-upper chocolate box cottages in the country, even though I’d probably go mad. But it allows the secondary time-wasting opportunity of pretend kitchen planning: if I’ve got an imaginary Cotswolds budget on RM I also have a Plain English or DeVol budget for the kitchen Grin

PickAChew · 09/12/2020 12:43

I can't see any sign of central heating, for a, start!

Original poster
dreamhouse2020 · 09/12/2020 12:43

I promise it's not my house Grin although I will now have driven up the Rightmove 'hits' by you all clicking the link!

The price doesn't seem too bad to me because in my current area, a detached house with half an acre would be about £1m (crazy South East prices!).

No young children so the pond isn't an issue thankfully.

It's probably only going to be DP and I living there full time, so 4 beds is fine for us. IF it was ours we'd probably knock the kitchen through to the study and make a bigger kitchen/diner and use the smallest bedroom upstairs as a study. We could also rejig the upstairs to create an ensuite but with only 2 of us there most of the time I think we could manage with the 1 bathroom for a while.

If it was £300k not £400k I'd be suggesting we make an offer.

My hope is that someone buys it to develop, can't get planning and then sells it...ideally in about 3 years!

OP posts:
FitterHappierMoreProductive · 09/12/2020 12:45

A quick bit of google research tells me it’s way overpriced...so you may be lucky!

Oliversmumsarmy · 09/12/2020 12:46

I can understand why you like it. It does have a nice feel to it even in the pictures.

SinkGirl · 09/12/2020 12:47

I properly fell in love with a house recently. One of those things that comes up very rarely - detached house, been in same family for decades and not decorated, needed everything doing and I suspect had some damp but mostly appeared cosmetic. Most important very big rooms, high ceilings etc - the living room (one of two receptions) had a baby grand piano in the corner and barely took up any room. We could have afforded it too but our house isn’t on the market yet and was snapped up in days. Sigh. Got really upset when I saw it had sold.

Just have to hope another great prospect comes up when we are ready but most houses locally like that are already flats!

Oliversmumsarmy · 09/12/2020 12:48

Nothing stopping you offering £300,000. If you have a mortgage in place you never know they might take it.

Original poster
dreamhouse2020 · 09/12/2020 12:48

It's gas warm air underfloor heating apparently. I've seen houses before with warm air but it's normally in the walls. having it underfloor was a new one on me!

That would probably have to go. I like a radiator :)

The driveway up to the house is lovely, when we drove up it I felt like I was driving to the sort of house I should live in (I have a driveway the length of my car currently...!)

The house I live in now was never my dream house, it was only ever meant to be a stepping stone, yet due to various reasons I've ended up living in it for nearly 20 years. Quite keen to make sure I get a dream house next time.

OP posts:
SinkGirl · 09/12/2020 12:49

You say your partner pays himself minimum wage - does he have a limited company and does he take dividends? Some lenders will take this into account fairly especially if your accounts are consistent for a few years. Worth finding out

sueelleker · 09/12/2020 12:51

Oh, I love it! Just my style-and my spaniel would love the pond. And that kitchen!!! I'd move in just as it is.

2bazookas · 09/12/2020 12:52

Nice! It's got lots of potential , good plot, solidly built with no obvious problems. Stuff needs updating (eventually) but its all superficial and the place is perfectly livable meanwhile. Lovely pond.

We should all buy a lottery ticket; whover wins buys the house and rents it out to Dream until she can afford to buy it.

Bluetrews25 · 09/12/2020 12:52

See, you can always change the structure and look of the house (planning permission permitted) but you can never change where it is.
That's why EAs bang on about location, location, location.
Love that wisteria.

WhatAreWordsWorth · 09/12/2020 12:54

Agree with PP about speaking to a decent mortgage broker - ask if anyone you know can recommend one. It’s a nice property, and if you both love it it’s worth at least having the conversation with a broker.

DH and I were in a similar situation a couple of years ago. A house came up for sale and we instantly fell in love with it. Went to view it and loved it even more. But it was too far over our price range and the sellers wouldn’t budge on price.

It stayed for sale for a while and eventually sold for about £15k under asking. We were gutted when it sold. Then we found the house we’re in now - it’s in a completely different area, completely different style of house, but much bigger and cost a lot less! We love it and I’m now so glad we didn’t get the other house. Things have a funny way of working out!

Missthedog · 09/12/2020 12:55

If it's any consolation, I have done this a few times; fallen in love with a property that we can't get for whatever reason. When we were moving once, we really stretched ourselves to offer on the 'dream' home but the offer was refused. I remember actually crying about that.. years later, you do wonder what was so special. There are so many gorgeous properties out there. You find yours when the time is right. Meantime, enjoy looking Smile

Lurchermom · 09/12/2020 12:56

Ahh I also love the house. We've bought a 70s semi down south where we work, but our dream is to return to my DH's homeland which is very near Ellesmere. Same price as we paid here, sob, and we have a lot less room and a similar level of interior!!

Derbee · 09/12/2020 12:56

@SinkGirl

You say your partner pays himself minimum wage - does he have a limited company and does he take dividends? Some lenders will take this into account fairly especially if your accounts are consistent for a few years. Worth finding out
I agree with this. Especially with the fact that the house has been on the market for 18 months, and is overpriced. Plus you have £100k cash. With a good mortgage broker, you may find you’re in a better position than you think you are.
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