to have become a bit obsessed with this house?

[dreamhouse2020]

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.

I would NEVER buy that house, but if you love it, you may as well talk to someone and see if you’re in a position to make a move

Thanks for sharing OP. It's absolutely not my style of house but I understand how houses can get under your skin and I really hope it works out for you!

I think i know that house as not far from Ellesmere, i am north wales. I have so many fond memories of Ellesmere as my nan lived not far away.
Great space.

If you love it I would put in a cheeky offer.
It has bags of potential but perfectly liveable whilst you save the extra to do any work to it. With a large deposit and it having been on the market for 18 months you could get a bargain.

Offer what you can afford. We bought a house last year for 55k below asking price (similar priced house). Seller refused at first but relented when they hadn’t sold after 6 months.

Yes to the low offer OP. I got a rough ride here a year ago, when I was talking about low offers. People told me they’d never sell to me, I was a CF who would alienate the sellers etc etc.

Here I am sitting in my lovely home, which we paid almost £50k under asking price for

My mistake, although it's been vacant for about 18 months it seems like it was sold last year for £355k (so realistically I don't think the vendors would take any less than that). Does make me wonder why it's being sold again so quickly though.

I think it's lovely, although needs some work.

That always happen to me when I'm looking at Rightmove. Keep doing the lottery!

I love it. Also you CAN improve it BUT you could also live in it like that for a bit. Just a thought. ..... t

Go speak to a mortgage advisor and see what they say. Where's the harm?

What is Ellesmere like- is it a good place to live? Do you live there now? Would be interested to know as we are considering Shropshire next year

Love the house! Can't you make a sneaky offer of what you can afford? 300k plus lots of change. All they can say is no and then you would be able to disinvest yourself from something your heart really wants. This is a great house for the price and location. Good luck OP.

As others say - its the surrounding land that makes it attractive. Having said that its good that you see it as empty as that is what it will look like when you move in.

I am surprised that people (looking at DH) cannot look beyond what is already there when you view a house and try and imagine it with your own stuff in there.

It is boxy but the rooms arent tiny and although the kitchen and the pine is dated you could live in it whilst it was being done. If you have £100k that is great and remember the stamp duty holiday, although I guess its too late to take advantage of this.

I sold a relatives house 18 months ago and it was in a terrible state. Think 50 plus years of hoarding plus hadnet ben cleaned for 20 plus years. Dont go there with the state of the bathroooms, leaks everywhere and the kitchen was a death trap.

However we were bowled over by the offers for an unmodernised house. West London so very desirable. Interestingly in the same street were lots and lots of people of 70 plus living in houses that were much too big for them but they chose to stay in the area because once you are in you are in for life. Wont mention the area but there will be lots of nods if someone guesses.

@janex1 I'm in Shropshire , where are you thinking ? Op that has so much potential and Ellesmere is lovely .

Interest only mortgage for first say 5 years then get a full repayment mortgage?

I can see what you like it so much - I love it too. The gardens are gorgeous -all that space, but you’ll need a ride on mower!!
I live in an ‘ugly’ 70’s boxy house, but I love it, the rooms are big and there’s lots of them - I say each to their own!
You would need a chunk of cash too for new kitchen & bathroom.

That is gorgeous

Gosh I love it, would definitely make an offer, it's about 100k cheaper than the house we want to move from, it's just crazy the difference in price between areas. That would definitely be a 800\900k house where I am.

I live very close to where this house is. There are villages nearby where you could have a house that size with a big garden and similar view that wouldn't need that much work. I would say, for the location that is a lot of money given how much internal updating is needed.

I love it but I grew up in a house like this in the 70's.

Loads of potential and imagine the parties you could have without pissing the neighbours off!!

If we club together we might be in with a chance ;)

I think it’s creepy. That dark wood. Shudder.

The right one will be there when you are ready. When we were looking at moving, we both fell in love with a house, not perfect, but hey. We put in an offer, then full asking price, which was accepted, we were then gazumped which then made the woman greedy and said if we paid another 15 grand it was ours, luckily my husband put his foot down with her, even though we were both gutted, but realised she could keep doing this.
Anyway a month later we were sent through a different house, in fact 80 grand cheaper, we saw it, we loved it much more than the original one one, and are still in it now.
Oh and Karma....she lost the sale and it was sold for 20 grand less than asking price.
You will find your dream home.

@dreamhouse2020

My mistake, although it's been vacant for about 18 months it seems like it was sold last year for £355k (so realistically I don't think the vendors would take any less than that). Does make me wonder why it's being sold again so quickly though.

You never know, relocation for a job, probate, divorce any of those could mean they need a quick sale and will swallow the loss. Go for it.

I have been stalking a house on right move for about seven or eight years now, can’t afford it by a country mile, don’t think I could cope with two acres of land, haven’t got a horse to put in the stable block and the last owners did some extensive renovations, not all of which I like ( though I do like the new sitting room) , but I know if I win the lottery I will be driving down there , and knocking on the door to make them an offer they can’t refuse.

Hi Pumpkinpie- we were thinking Ludlow or Shrewsbury. We are moving from near London and no longer need a commute. Where are you? What are your thoughts on Ellesmere over Ludlow etc.
OP- I must admit that house looks amazing for the price. Hot air under floor heating is a bit an issue though---Would on how much they would take- looks like it is worth an offer!

It's a lovely house but having bought one very similar it will require an awful lot of work - and we found all sorts of dodgy things like an electrical ring done on speaker wiring abd a collapsed floor in the living room.