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Original poster

Would it put you off viewing/ offering on a house...

18 replies

CityDweller · 02/06/2016 22:25

... if the current owners had bought it less than a year ago?

Reason for sale being not to do with the house, neighbours or anything like that (but due to the personal circumstances of the owners).

OP posts:
ThroughThickAndThin01 · 02/06/2016 22:26

No it wouldn't put me off.

Pedestriana · 02/06/2016 22:27

No. We bought ours from people who'd bought it just over 6 months earlier. They were selling because of personal circumstances.

Pipbin · 02/06/2016 22:27

If I was made aware that it was personal circumstances then no.

namechangedtoday15 · 02/06/2016 22:56

Yes. I think lots of people would look at sold prices in the road before they viewed to see if its a good price, and would see that you'd bought it less than a year ago. If it was priced higher, I'd think you were selling for a quick profit (which would put me off) or if it were a similar price I'd question why you were moving so quickly. Its tricky, I think "personal circumstances" might be a bit of an excuse no matter how much the estate agent said it wasn't anything to do with neighbours / schools / some big motorway being built at the end of the garden.

Original poster
CityDweller · 03/06/2016 08:02

Ok. Interesting division of opinion!

OP posts:
wobblywonderwoman · 03/06/2016 08:08

if it was obvious that it was circumstances (baby on the way or whatever) I would be ok with it but otherwise I would be iffy

angelopal · 03/06/2016 08:46

Would not put me off viewing but I would be asking why they are moving so soon. The seller of our current house had owned for just under 2 years and I was wary until found out it was a relationship break up.

Needmoresleep · 03/06/2016 08:50

Have they made improvements? Some people make a living from "flipping", and will move every few months. Having the property as your main home has Capital Gains Tax benefits.

senua · 03/06/2016 09:01

It wouldn't put me off viewing.
After that, it depends on the circumstances ... and whether I believed what you were telling me!

Original poster
CityDweller · 03/06/2016 09:16

Ugh, it's so tricky isn't it! Basically, we made a 'big move' last summer and I just really really miss where we used to live and want to move back there. Nothing at all wrong with the house, or where it is, or the road, or anything like that. We've made no significant improvements (just cosmetic stuff) and wouldn't be seeking to make a profit. Ideally we'd break even, but are willing to take a bit of a hit. I'm just not sure how to spin it to agents/ viewers.

OP posts:
pinkdelight · 03/06/2016 09:30

If I believed them, yes. But if it was neighbours and they hadn't let it escalate to a stage where it had been documented, they could still say personal circumstances and then you'd be stuck with it. So I'd be wary unless it clearly was nothing that would impact on our future in the house.

UpsiLondoes · 03/06/2016 09:32

Just tell them that and they will label you impulsive and fickle m. Most people wouldn't move so quickly because it takes time to get use to and love a new house / neighbourhood, so if you come up with fake reasons, something will be "off"

DooblieDooo · 03/06/2016 15:15

I wouldn't say you are moving back because you miss your old place, I would phrase it along the lines of family member needs care because otherwise I would be worrying that a neighbour issue had come to light.

It also means you can be all "gosh I love this house and I am gutted to have to move" blah blah blah "but X has become more dependent and I need to help brother/sister with the job of caring for X"

FuzzyOwl · 03/06/2016 15:27

I would still view the place and put in an offer if I liked it. What would make me wary would be if several people had moved recently on one street or if a house had been sold a few times in quick succession, because then you wonder about the neighbours or possible nearby development plans.

Philoslothy · 03/06/2016 15:30

I would ask why and do some digging. There is a house near our village which was sold after being on the market for a long time. The new owners put it back on the market very quickly because the house is a very cute but not practical cottage. If you look back at the history of the house you can see that this pattern has been repeated a few times. That would make me reluctant to buy.

Yukduck · 03/06/2016 15:44

We bought a house from a couple who had only bought it 6 months before putting it back up for sale.
The woman's husband had a massive falling out with the man a few doors down. They came to blows (so we were told by a neighbour after we bought!) in the middle of the road one day and the house went straight on the market - and along we came and bought it!
We were a bit surprised as we had been told the reason for sale was schools in the area not being to the liking of the family (that did not bother us as we only moved a few streets so our children never had to move schools).
It all turned out fine as we never met this fierce streetfighting neighbour. DH would have run a mile from any trouble as he is just not for fisticuffs!

scarlets · 03/06/2016 16:50

I'd tell the estate agent that unfortunately, family circumstances compel you to return. You'd be doing nothing wrong, really - it's not as though you're covering up something sinister. You won't be hurting your eventual buyer in any way.

Original poster
CityDweller · 03/06/2016 16:52

We're only the 4th owners of the house in 50ish years, so nothing off-putting there. It's a very 'naice' street (private road, in fact) with a relatively low turnover of houses. I do in fact completely love the house, but it's not enough to outweigh how much I miss where we used to live. I wrestle with it every day, but have decided life's too short...

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