SO fed up - we were due to exchange and complete today

[moominmarvellous]

and now we're back in limbo because of all the debts secured on the house by the previous owners.

We've been going back and forth for 3 months solving various problems and were finally getting somewhere; all the searches were done, had signed and returned our contract, money in Solicitors Bank Account ready for today, and then it transpired that another charge was filed against the property on 17th Sep after initial searches were carried out.

It's such a mess. Now, unless the woman can get the charge removed (I have no idea how long this could take) the house could be reposessed and sold by the bank. We dont even get first refusal. Apparrently they don't even have to tell us whats happening and all we can do is keep an eye on the SOLD sign to see if they're re-marketing it.

It doesn't make sense. We have the money for it, ready, today. It's a decent price for the house so I can't understand why this has to happen.

Surely vendors should have to provide a full credit history regarding the house before they are allowed to put it on the market?

I was ok yesterday, but so I'm upset today. there must be something I can do, but I can't find anything out from anyone as it's nothing to do with us in the eyes of the bank and they have all the answers according to the sols and estate agent.

DC2 is due in just over 2 weeks......I should have known it all ended up a bit too neatly after all the crap.

No no, consider it a communal moan zone about housebuying!

I hope you're able to feel a bit brighter over the next few days. Its time to crack open the cliches about wether or not it was 'meant to be' and everything happening for a reason. They do help a bit I find. That and swearing alot about everyone else involved in the situation xx

You're right. If we're meant to have the house then no-one else will buy it, right? We'd just like ONE thing to go right

Had 4 viewings on our house already today so at least it feels like something's happening.

OK, enough for now. Cheery things - when is this baby due? Are you all ready for it?

Hellooo, you sound a bit brighter today! The viewings are a good sign, let's hope for a serious, prepared buyer among them, no more idiotboys!

The baby is due next Friday. Things are just starting to get uncomfortable, had a few niggles yesterday - nothing major, but enough to remind me of what's to come, so that's taking over my thoughts at the moment!

Yep, all ready. I've reacquainted myself with the buggy and have been sorting out the little vests and things, so I'm looking forward to finally finding out if it's a he or a she now :D

Hellooo, you sound a bit brighter today! The viewings are a good sign, let's hope for a serious, prepared buyer among them, no more idiotboys!

The baby is due next Friday. Things are just starting to get uncomfortable, had a few niggles yesterday - nothing major, but enough to remind me of what's to come, so that's taking over my thoughts at the moment!

Yep, all ready. I've reacquainted myself with the buggy and have been sorting out the little vests and things, so I'm looking forward to finally finding out if it's a he or a she now :D

That's so exciting! What have you got already? We didn't find out either (girl first, then boy) and that finding out bit is sooooooo lovely! Also I was dead wrong about what they were both times

Our estate agent has suddenly leapt into action because he's scared they'll lose exclusivity. Which they have. I feel bad because our original buyer just wants this house so much.

I think I need to just let things pan out now or I'll drive myself mad.

Oh, the little vests! There's not many things that would put me in danger of getting broody, but the little vests could do it!

Fimbo did you at least have a happy ending you can tell me to give me hope?

Firstly apologies for my double posts - MN and my Blackberry don't seem to like each other very much!

I've got a little girl already, and she's 3 and half. I was so convinced she was a boy, but this time I really can't decide. Some things during the pg have been very different, some the same.....we shall see!

Going back to houses though, that's pretty much what I've had to do. I've told myself that perfect has been and gone, so now I'm just resigned to the fact that we are waiting. I am still hoping for problem house, and have shifted my goal to 'if we can just be in by December....' to trick myself into beleiveing it's still going my way! I have various Estate Agents emailing us suitable properties in the meantime and DH is doing the calling and complaining (although he says it remains like water off a ducks back!) - just trying to be as pro-active as possible and try to shake off the stress as it was dragging us all down so much. My BIL & SIL had a terrible time trying to buy their house too, it took them about 7 or 8 months and they had to have all the surveys and things re-done, but they stuck with it and have lived there for the last 4 years now. I'm taking consolation that we too might get there in the end!

That's good to hear. We need more happy ending stories like that. Maybe we should start a thread. We don't want any of those stories about moves going through in 2 weeks though.

Hello both. Hope things are better today, new week and all that...

I wont bore you with the ghastly details of our last move/purchase will try to summarise (hard for me!).

Finally get a precedable offer on our property after about 12 weeks and numerous viewings.

Property we liked still on market, previous offered rejected as we were not sold, renegotiate lower price than orginal offer.

Our buyers solicitors is a trainee and takes forever to do things as her work not actually checked by anyone in her company! Two days before exchange decides we have to have a completion certificate for a back window installed in a very small extension back in the 80's by the previous owners of the house, we had managed to buy it without one! Council jobsworth comes out and decides the glass needs to be replaced and upgraded as not got kitemark, remember this work done in the 80's, so is not actually required. By some fluke our buyers brother is a double glazing installer! We get him to measure up for the correct glass and have install it all for £15 which was amazing.

House we are buying has covenants attached that let the house next door dictate what alterations you can make, dh goes to see owners and they say they will object to a garden room on the back (not visible from their property, nor detrimental to them in anyway - we pull out.

One week to find somewhere to rent - find pokey little hole for the next 6 months.

Buy a new build 3 months later as couldn't be doing with the rental place and fairly stress free exchange, complete.

Good luck!

Oh my God. And you lived to tell the tale. I don't know whether it makes me feel better or more terrified!

Thankyou for sharing though! Are you happy where you ended up?

I think I must be in denial. I am fairly chirpy most of the day but get tearful very quickly if I think about it too much.
I am also clutching at straws; our original buyer is apparently considering getting a buy-to-let mortgage and renting out her house so she can still buy ours or something, but apparently that's a super-expensive way of doing things so I don't know whether she will. We could do the same thing I think but with childcare costs as well we just couldn't afford it.

I don't think anyone who viewed on Sat is going to make an offer now. Got another viewing tomorrow though. I can't believe we're back to the tidying up for viewings stage

I am just petrified at the thought of someone else rocking up and buying the house we want. The market is really not doing much round there at the moment but I don't know whether that's in our favour or not.

Update .....although not much actual development....!!

So, I was in tears on Friday after DH said he had called all three of the wise bloody monkeys (boths sets of Sols plus Estate Agents) and they were all waiting for the other to call back blah blah blah. So basically nothing had been done by anyone all week despite the fact that we had found out ourselves on Monday that the charge was nothing new - apparrently which is what they had all been waiting for and had held us up the week before.

Told DH to tell me nothing more about it unless there was something to tell as I am happier in oblivion, at least til after the baby (leaving it all to him poor bugger)

They told him call back Weds (today) he called them and......they were waiting for messages to be returned AGAIN - he went mental. He demanded that he be allowed to talk to the female vendor, as we need to know that she actually wants and is able to sell this house either by her consenting to her number being given to him or by them giving his tel. Under an hour later, she called DH.

She has been having the same probs with her sols as us, them dragging out every little task, and when she has gotten onto it herself has been able to resolve things the same day. She does not want to go bankrupt by any means, she does not want the house herself as it holds too many bad memories, the bank do not want to repossess the house, she confirmed this with them. She also said that she suggested to the Estate Agent some time ago that they rent the house to us pending the actual sale. We would have bitten her arm off had we been told that!

Also it would have helped her out as we'd have been able to pay a large amount of the mortgage repayments for the last few months. However according to our mortgage broker (lovely guy) it would not have been in the EA's best interests to suggest this as after 6 months, apparrently we could have then gone private with the sale, cutting them out. We wouldn't have done that to them - we don't want to risk losing the house. If they'd have helped us out to that extent we'd have bloody paid them more!

So anyway, that's about it. But at least we have peace of mind that the sale is going through, albeit at the pace of an elderly snail, and that we have the vendor in our corner. DH said she sounded lovely and although he didn't ask any questions he gets the impression the husband is a real shit. Which makes me want to buy her house even more so her ex hasn't succeeded in taking her to the cleaners!

So that's the latest in our housebuying soap opera!

Fimbo - that does sound like a nightmare! New builds have been crossing my mind as a next step - my sis moved into hers a couple of weeks ago - smoothest sale ever.

IHKT - are your viewings amounting to anything? Be sure not to leave any doggy doings in the garden won't you?!

That's so great! I was wondering where you'd got to, thought maybe you'd had the baby!

Wow that sounds so much more positive, so it really could happen now! Having the vendor on your side is a massive plus, it just goes to show how counter-productive these bloody solicitors and estate agents can be (LOVE the wise monkeys!). They should be ashamed of themselves that their incompetence has put you through this. And yeay for your DH going mental down the phone!

No offers yet, had 8 or 9 viewings, 1 second viewing but nothing yet - we've sold it so easily before (twice!) that I guess I was hoping to do the same this time. Another couple apparently very interested in house we want but haven't sold so I guess we are a baby-step ahead of them until they do. It honestly just feels like the house (and with it the walk to school, the short commute, the park etc.) is slipping away from us...

They are not keen on renting it to us either unless they have real problems selling it. Judging by our luck so far though I bet someone will come along and complete in a week.

It is all just horrible.

But I am SO glad to hear you've still got a chance to get the house you want.

I do feel a bit more optimistic now we know from her that reposession isn't on the cards and that we both know each side is doing all they can to move things along. I'm reluctant to get too excited though as who knows what could crop up - although hopefully, nothing!

Well a second viewing sounds promising, and if you've had speedy sales before your house must tick some common boxes so as long as the estate agents can keep them coming there is still hope.

Also, no, no baby yet. Due date is tomorrow and been having some backache today and things are getting uncomfortable now - although the discomfort came right at the end with DD as well and she was still 2 weeks late! I just cannot wait to find out what it is!

Well, I'll keep you posted, you do the same, and my fingers remain crossed for us both x

Well not sold yet. Very conscious that it's bloody impossible to leave the house perfect at 7.45am with two dressed, fed children.
Hopefully people will think - well WE could make this look MUCH better!

Coping OK but hatehateHATE seeing 'our' house on rightmove. Trying just to look at it like if we're meant to have it no-one else will buy it. Not easy though.

But it is still a strange kind of relief not waiting for idiotboy all the time!

Hmmm, I wonder how long this thread will keep going before we both manage to move?

Hope you're good, I can't wait to find out what you have either!

I know, 'our' house is still on Rightmove as well, although still under SOLD stc.....I want them to just take it off!

I do wonder how it'll pan out for us. Once we get into our new homes, be they the ones we started the thread off with or others - that'll be it! There'll be no moving us for the rest of our lives!

NEVER EVER AGAIN.

But then I did say that after I had my first baby

Oh you've definitely had the baby this time, I just know it! I hope you can find some time to come on here and tell us what you had! And where - estate agent's or solicitors?!

And no, we are still going nowhere fast...

No I haven't! The baby is taking it's cue from our housemove and is on a go slow! If nothing happens over the weekend - which I'm not too sure it will (was induced last time so not 100% sure of early signs!) I'll be induced on Monday.

I've been checking to see if you'd been back, but had nothing much to report, however....

Problem house may be inching it's way back to us. We had another problem on Monday afternoon where we called our solicitor and were told that she'd found out on Friday that there may be another problem (again - thanks for keeping us posted!)regarding the negative equity. Although the bank were allowing the sale to proceed, the female vendor had to come to some arrangement with them regarding the repayment of the negative equity. From what I can tell she's been pretty much left in the lurch with 3 children/relocating and dodging her ex-husband, and said she wasn't in a position to repay the money at all. Our solicitor said this, again, could lead to reposession!

BUT by Weds the issue had been resolved and we recieved a call from our solicitor today (first time they've called US) to say the bank has issued a waiver for the outstanding money owed, and that contracts have been drawn up and sent off to the bank for signing, then they'll go to the woman vendor, then to us, and then........well, fingers crossed we might just get the place!

So nothings doing your end? Is the house you were after still on the market? The thing is, although people say that things slow down leading up to Christmas, the good thing is they slow down for everyone, so hopefully although you're not moving, hopefully, nor are the people in the house you wanted x

Oh my goodness, come on moominbaby! Wow you could get signed contracts and a baby in the same week at this rate, it'd be like Christmas!

Things have taken an odd turn here. They've taken it off the market for sale and put it up to let, apparently they're now quite taken with the idea of being landlords . We've been offering to rent it off them for weeks... anyway they're going through a letting agent who's put it on for £1750 a month and told them they won't have to do anything to it to get tenants. It's got a knackered kitchen and an ancient bathroom, it's been kept well but I think renters would expect more. And £1750 seems very high for the area (and we def couldn't afford it if ours hasn't sold). I am pinning my hopes on no-one wanting to rent it, DH thinks it will be let quickly though.

Apparently if we can get the contracts together in time they MAY still agree to sell it to us. Bloody big if though. Idiotboy and idiotbroker assure us that they have another mortgage agreed in principle but it would be ridiculous to trust him now so I don't know where that leaves us. He still needs to get another survey done so it won't be quick.

At least it's half term now.

In any other situation you'd feel really sorry for your vendor, wouldn't you? What a horrible situation. Really hope it all gets sorted.

Moomin and IHKT, I'm in awe of your staying power and stamina! I just posted a really self-pitying thread on Property last night, but hasn't read this one, and now I feel very embarassed. I might feel like I'm about to give birth in the solicitor's office, but I'm still only 30 wks. (Though actually, that might be an idea - go in there and fake some early labour pains, and see if she gets a rush on all of a sudden.)

I find the worst thing in all this is letting go at the weekends, because solicitors and mortgage comps and surveyors don't work then. Doesn't mean you stop fretting at weekends, though!

Moomin, I really hope everything goes well for you. I am so angry on your behalf at the way this has been messed around. I can't imagine how you have the inner resources to cope with all this, be in limbo for so long and are about to go into labour! It's just killing me, and I have another 10 weeks, potentially. Am keeping fingers tentatively crossed that the House is again coming your way... Keep us posted!

Hadn't read this one, not hasn't read. Tch.

Please don't feel embarrassed, come and share the pain! I've just read your other post and your situation sounds horrible. There's always someone who's worse off - that doesn't make what you have to live through in your own life any easier!

I think you've hit the nail on the head with the phrase 'a few tantalising days' - that's exactly how it's been for us. It must be policy - don't tell them it'll be longer than a few days or they might pull out, keep them hanging...

It is torture

And all those 'few days' have added up to 4 months. I just can't believe it's suddenly the wrong end of October and my DC and I are still enduring 8 hours a week in the car. Probably should have cut and run ages ago but we're stuck now because of my new job and DDs pre-school place.

I've never been so stressed in my whole life and I'm not even pregnant! So please come over and if it helps!

Really hope it works out for you.

Moomin just wanted to say hope everything goes great tomorrow. Mmmm, lovely snuggly newborn smell...

PLEASE come back and tell us what you have!
xx

Hellooo! Well, I still have no house, but I DO have a little baby boy!

Went in on Tuesday to be induced and he arrived at 08.55 on Wednesday morning, 9lb 5oz, my little boy Max

Really, really happy. Our first couple of nights have been good ones and DD has taken to him nicely, which as much as we can hope for at this stage, so everything feels really lovely at the moment xxx

Oh yeay! Some good news on this thread at last! Congratulations, so happy for you, bet finding out what he was was the best feeling ever!

Well done you

Final update on the house situation....we pulled out of the purchase yesterday after learning that at the heart of the whole problem is a custody dispute.

Turned out 2 weeks ago that Mr problem house ISN'T entirely out of the picture as we were led to believe - he has to sign a transfer form to release the house to his official reciever to complete the sale. He's ben refusing to sign.

i called him myself yesterday to try and appeal to his better nature, but he said he will 100% not sign the paperwork until she lets him see the children, and despite the fact that it means she'll go bankrupt and the house will now be reposessed, she's refused him any access.

I still don't quite understand how or why he has any right over the place as he admitted himself that he legally doesn't own the property anymore. Makes me quite sick that despite that we need his signature to release the property to us.

We're now looking at other places in the area. If the place comes up as a reposession while we're looking we might consider it. Although to be honest I feel quite happy to be out of it all!! What a palaver that was!