Houses that have been taken off the market - get in touch with them?

[feesh]

We are currently living overseas, but we will probably move back to the UK in 3-4 months as soon as my husband gets a firm job offer.

I've been watching the market in the 3 towns we would want to live in like crazy, saving my favourite properties and watching to see which ones sell and which ones stay on the market for ages.

There have been 2 or 3 houses that have been definite favourites which have recently been pulled from the market (not sold, just taken off the market completely). They had all been on for quite a while.

We would definitely have gone to see them as soon as DH got his job offer, so do you think it's worth getting in touch with the vendors directly? We should be quite attractive buyers, with a decent deposit, mortgage lined up and no chain.

Or would it cause offence to approach them like this?

I don't think anyone would be offended. It was a slow winter/spring for the housing market in a lot of areas so they may have just decided to wait until things pick up again. Now that the election has been more conclusive than anyone predicted, the market may gather pace again.

not offensive at all. But if you are worried about going direct to owners, go via the Agent.

How do you know they've been taken off the market and not sold? Just curious

We did this last year. We couldn't secure the property we wanted as we didn't have an offer on ours, later we then found a cash buyer and the house was off the market and advertised to rent. I actually obtained the owners phone number from a neighbour (empty property) and I sent a text. I was so nervous it would seem impertinent but they were delighted and it is now our home

Thanks all. It says on Rightmove when they've been taken off, at least on the app anyway. I presume not sold, as it normally says 'under offer' or SSTC when they actually sell them. And sometimes houses do say 'no longer on the market' and then reappear a week later under a different agent with a lower price, but unfortunately that hasn't happened with the properties I especially wanted to go and view!

To the last poster (sorry I can't see your name as I type this on the app!) thank you so much for sharing your story, it gives me hope!