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.

Oh OP I hope you went for it rather than being heartbroken this morning.

It wasn't me, sadly!

I'm a tiny bit sad but to use one of my favourite sayings, what's meant for you won't go past you :)

I'm sure if we're meant to have that house, then in 3 years or so when we're ready to move it will come up for sale again, and if not, then one that is as good if not better will.

Keep saving sweetie, it's in the stars. Dont give up just yet

Lol so it's been on market ages and now suddenly sold? Definitely a mumsnetter who bought it. So come on then! Reveal yourself!

Oh that would be mean

Must admit I've been window shopping on Rightmove a lot this year and became obsessed with a few houses and have mentally moved myself in and even planned what would go where etc! I've been using it as motivation to declutter my house and do all those annoying little jobs I've been putting off doing in case we do actually decide to sell up in the New Year. It's always a bit disheartening when you see them go STC but so far each time this has happened a house we like even more has come on the market. Worst case scenario we end up staying put longer but the house is cleaner and more organised than it was before!

I wouldn't let your income put you off speaking to a broker if this house comes back on the market or you see another one you like the look of. Technically the houses we've seen would be the max or a bit over what we can borrow according to the 'four times your income rule'. Like you we can have a decent deposit to put down and we could afford the monthly repayments. We had the same scenario with the house we're in now and thought we wouldn't be able to get a mortgage, but our broker sorted it easily enough.

I confess I have been keeping an eye on the house to distract me from the boredom of lockdown, and...

it's no longer under offer.

This is STILL no good to me of course as I need another couple of years (and I don't want it to be empty that long!).

Hmm no pictures of bedrooms or bathrooms so you must assume the worst.

Blown hot air heating system too - that would need to be replaced.

Funnily enough I do actually like it - it has great potential but would need a shedload of money spent on it.

There is a picture of the bathroom (it's useable but would need replacing sooner rather than later) and of one of the bedrooms. From looking through the windows the house structurally is in good condition, although the inside needs updating it was all very presentable and clean for a house that's been unoccupied for ages, even the kitchen taps were shiny!

The priority would definitely be to replace the heating.

Mmmmm. Don’t really get what you love, it’s a good sized plot yes and if you can afford to knock it down and start again then it could be nice.

I remember this. The views are glorious and I’d forgive a lot for that. I like the garden too. The kitchen would look 100% better if you just painted the cabinets and the bathroom’s dated but there isn’t actually anything wrong with it.

It’s beautiful and I love the huge pond, probably has all sorts of lovely rare wildlife like great crested newts and toads!

Loads of potential too.

It's definitely the plot/ position for me. the views front and back are lovely, and living in London I relish the idea of a long driveway.

I don't dislike the house itself, being a child of the 1970s there's something comforting about its external appearance. I'd want to update of course but the layout is fine, and it's completely habitable right now. I'd want eventually a new kitchen and bathroom, but I could live with it for a bit. Also I've never had a garage let alone a double one.

Ellesmere is a lovely area, but then Shropshire is in general. We are very lucky , plenty of space and easy to social distance. Saying that people have been fine driving into the County to go for a Country walk .

Unbelievably pretty garden and outlook. I can see why you are getting obsessed as it looks so peaceful. I also love to fantasy shop on Rightmove. In May I spotted our local manor house on the market. I started trying to work out how we could liquidise enough assets to buy it as we have a portfolio of btl's. Then mysteriously it was taken off the market after about three-four months. Then the first week of November I spotted it on again for a slightly lower price. I drove my DH mad about it but it was taken off again second week of January. I feel desparately invested into why they put it on, them took it off, then did it again. I feel like knocking on their door and asking them but DH does not want to move to 'the Hall'. I want to live there and pretend I am a Princess.

@Zoomies06 I love Shropshire, am looking forward to moving there. Everything is just so much less busy than where I am now. It is a bit colder and wetter generally than the South East but I think the positives outweigh that!