Why Is It So Difficult To Buy A House In England?

[Fimbo]

I am fed up. No houses to buy, don't want to sell our current house until we find another one. The whole system is defeatist. Gazumping, 10% deposit, exchanging contracts, waiting for completion dates. STRESS STRESS STRESS. Why can't they adopt the Scottish system (admittedly things can go wrong there too and this is not a bashing thread btw).

Phew rant over

I'd like to know how people can afford to buy houses. Me and Dp have always worked in professional jobs but never earned enough between us to get a mortgage on the smallest property where I live (south west) I see loads of new houses being built around me but no one I know earns enough to be able to buy.

It's too easy for people to pull out and mess around down here. I know someone who has now decided to pull out of the house she is supposed to be buying for no particular reason which will cause a whole massive chain to collapse which has already been on the go for months. It's horrible.