I'm an idiot

[AnuvvaMuvva]

Split from XH a few years ago and have been living in the marital home with the DC. When it was time to apply for DS1's secondary school, decided to make the move back to my family's town so we'd be there "for good".

Put house on market - 40 viewings, 7 offers, accepted the second highest at 50k over asking price. Unbelievably surprised and happy.

That extra money gave me the real possibility of buying a place, rather than moving back in with parents and saving up. All good.

Found a 3-bed place just 2 minutes' walk from my parents' house. Ugly from the front, on a busy main road near a garage and a speed camera (!) but quite nice inside. TINY garden overlooked on all sides. Walking distance to the schools. Put in 3 offers until they finally accepted one at £5.5k under asking price.

Paid £300 for mortgage broker to get me a mortgage. Paid £640 for a full structural survey. Paid £300 to solicitors for search fees.

Am now having second thoughts. :( The house has been on and off the market since Nov 2011. Rented out when not on market. They've had previous offers which have dropped out, often days before completion.

Everyone I meet in that town (via a Facebook group) seems to have viewed that house at some point and disregarded it. It's a nice town, but the house is in a row of about 10, all 70s built, that just seem a bit... rough. Which is the only reason I can afford it, tbh. It's about £50k less than other 3-beds.

I've spent SO MUCH MONEY because I got all excited and just HAD to secure the house... And now I'm not sure. It's £235k FFS! Cheap for the town but in all other senses it's ALMOST A QUARTER OF A MILLION.

Survey came back fine, except he advised that the double-glazing was shot (misting), and to get vendors to give a legal declaration of any previous noise problems - the houses have no sound-protection and he said a "large unaccompanied dog next door barked throughout the viewing".

What do I do? If I pull out of this, I can move into my parents' house and be a cash buyer with a mortgage AIP when my house completes. That's not progressing as fast as I liked either -- they had a mortgage valuation and a couple of things on that have led them to book a buildings survey next Monday.

I've never done this before and feel I've been too impulsive and rushed into things. And I'm worried my solicitor is going to think I'm a time-wasting idiot if I back out.

I'd be walking away from a cheap bird in the hand for a prettier, nicer two in the bush that May or may not come on the market next year at my price.

Don't know what to do. Sick of thinking about it all, tbh. And spent ALL my money on a house I'm not sure about! Only have £350 left till I get paid. :(

[pippop1]

People will put their houses up for sale early next year so she will find one soon!

[AnuvvaMuvva]

Thank you! Me too! Just need her to find a lovely house to buy with her partner, quickly! :)?

[poocatcherchampion]

flowers when you move in if it has all gone smoothly. and I hope it does!

[AnuvvaMuvva]

Thank you!! Xx

[ElsieMc]

Sorry, didn't read all your thread. Congratulations - I hope all goes well for you.

[ElsieMc]

Walk away. Your instincts are warning you here, as was your surveyor. I totally agree £1200 is a lot to lose, but better than making a terrible mistake that makes you miserable then having to try and get rid of the house again, possibly at a loss. A large, noisy dog barking will drive you mad and lead to a fall out with your neighbours.

Cut your losses. It does not matter about offending anyone else. You will find something better after Christmas.

[AnuvvaMuvva]

Thanks for all your posts! I'm really excited. Praying everything proceeds without too many hitches. I've already mentally moved in, redecorated, given the house a name and fixed up the back garden...

[pippop1]

I may be a cynic but I wouldn't get too friendly in case the survey throws up something major and you need to ask for a reduction in the price to in order to get it fixed.

Make sure you have the rolls royce of surveys. With a house I'd go for a full structural survey personally. Good luck OP. Very exciting.

[HaveToWearHeels]

She sounds lovely OP and it is nice to sell your home to someone who loves it. I thought you might have to offer the asking price. We got into a bidding war on one house, it was on for 235k it went up to 250k which is when we dropped out as we were not willing to go over the stamp duty threshold. As much as we loved it it wasn't for us to live in and we withdrew from the madness.
The vendor sound a genuine vendor so hopefully it will all go smoothly.

[AnuvvaMuvva]

I'm scared to get too excited until I actually have the keys in my hand.

[AnuvvaMuvva]

I had to go to the asking price, but she's accepted and it's officially off the market! All viewings cancelled, no further marketing. I'm really excited!

I actually went round to meet her after my viewing, I dropped in a Christmas card and told her how much I liked her house. And that I have an old cat who'll love the cat flap! She's a really lovely woman. She has my phone number too (it's on the card) and we ended up chatting for ages.

Oh pray for me that it all goes ahead! If she's scceoted my offer, that's it now - isn't it? I will go ahead and book the mortgage survey, and tell my solicitor. What else should I do?

Oh I love it. I might take her some flowers. Too much?!

[HaveToWearHeels]

OP I just had a nosey about (sorry property is a passion of mine) If its the house I am thinking of it is lovely. Really nice area with great schools, I have a friend who live nearby. Lovely cat flap

[HaveToWearHeels]

Good luck Anuvva have just caught up on your thread. I don't live far from Wokingham, I know the area very well and were looking for a BTL in that area over the past couple of months. The market is currently red hot, some agents have no three bed house for sale, so I am thinking you may need to up your offer to asking price (if it is on for 250k). We have now found a house in Aborfield, a bit further out but it is lovely.
Please let us know how you get on

Oh and having been divorced myself, the feeling of having your own home that no one can take away from you is amazing, so do it on your own if you can.

[ChippingInLovesChristmasLights]

Housewarming, coffee in town, opening of an envelope - let me know and I'll be there

[AnuvvaMuvva]

You're all so lovely! Chipping, that would've been awesome! :)

I'll let you all know when the housewarming is. Thanks for being so sweet!! Xxx

[ChippingInLovesChristmasLights]

Sorry I missed your replies yesterday :(

The house you are in love with, is that house number 2... or has a third one crept in quietly?

I was over there today doing some Christmas visiting - we could have had coffee and driven slowly past your new house

[Tapiocapearl]

Report back!

[MmeCinqAnneauxDor]

Good for you. Crossing fingers that they'll accept offer

[Dillydollydaydream]

Sounds like you definitely made the right decision. Phew!

[AnuvvaMuvva]

Viewed a house today that was 10x nicer. Beautiful kitchen, garden, 3 really big bedrooms and a lovely sitting/dining room with gas fire and French doors. I made an offer. NOT asking price but a bit lower. Feeling quite calm either way.

[AnuvvaMuvva]

Thank you! I actually walked past the first house today and it looked HIDEOUS. I have no idea what I was thinking!

[Manchesterhistorygirl]

So glad you've made a decision muvva, if you're feeling relived it's a sign. Your. House is out there, just wait until spring. Merry Christmas.

[AnuvvaMuvva]

Thank you spotty! Let's decide that it was just fate, and that your house was waiting for YOU. Not that there was something wrong with it! :)

I did pull out - I feel so relieved. More relieved than I expected.

The estate agent is now asking if I'd accept a discount off the price bit is asking me to say how much I'd buy it for. I can't name a price!

Seeing another place today that looks much nicer. But if that doesn't work out, I'm quite looking forward to moving back with parents, having all the stress of this put aside for a while, and looking in relative peace. :)

[spotty26]

We bought a house that had been on and off the market since 2011 too. As it had been on for a few years we did get it for a better price than it was originally on for but I often wonder why no one else liked it enough and were we missing something!

I also meet lots of people who know it and many have viewed it. I like to think that they lacked our vision rather than it being blighted in some mystery way that we missed.

Anyway, people will soon forget it as THAT house when you have been in a few months. If you love it just go for it but equally if you really really do not want to go through with it just put a stop to it all.