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Original poster

ARGH! Why is buying a house so hard!!!!

30 replies

janebee4 · 26/07/2018 15:56

Just want a massive rant really. Myself and my partner have been saving to buy a house and we had our deposit ready 6 months ago, and then all the prices in our area seemed to shoot through the roof at the exact time we started to properly look. My parents have said they can help us out with a bigger deposit, which I initially refused, but we're getting desperate now. We live with my mum and dad so we can save, and it's getting more and more strained with us all living together.

We have no word of a lie viewed about 30 houses now. The ones we want keep getting snapped up, sometimes before we can even see them, and the ones we don't offer for have sat on the market for months because they're crap or overpriced. Was supposed to see a house tonight, the first one that's come online in ages that was in the area we want and we could just about afford, and the estate agent called me an hour before the viewing to say it's sold. IT WENT ONLINE ON TUESDAY PM, THEY SAID WE COULDN'T VIEW IT WEDNESDAY AND TODAY WAS THE EARLIEST APPOINTMENT SO HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?!?!?!? We're not even being picky, we have 4/5 areas we look in and we don't mind doing work to it but it's getting beyond a joke now.

Honestly I am so so miserable with all of this. We'd rent but that's a minefield as well and we wouldn't be able to save anything which, with how house prices are going, we probably need to carry on doing. The estate agents are useless at showing us anything or calling and I am just really really effing mad. Misery loves company so if anyone else is having an equally rubbish time house buying I would appreciate hearing your experiences.

OP posts:
Dahokolomoki · 26/07/2018 16:22

Wow, what area do you live in? I think most parts of the country are seeing a slowdown in property sales!

It might seem like it is taking loads of time and effort to purchase a property, but don't forget this is probably the most expensive "thing" you have ever bought, and if you're getting a mortgage, probably the biggest liability you are taking on. For 20-30 years commitment.

Take your last most expensive purchase (maybe a car, £10-15k?) and then your property price (I'm assuming maybe £200k-£300k for a house?) and it is probably right that it would take more than 10x the effort and time, just because if you screw up this purchase it could be quite costly, financially, for you.

If it is any consolation, I personally:

  • took 1.5 years from starting to completing on a property
  • viewed over 70 properties
  • took part in 3 sealed bids
  • tried to buy a property at auction
  • took 3 months to get my mortgage
  • had to sell first, move out to rental, before finding the next place
aquamarine1 · 26/07/2018 18:25

Are you Glasgow West by any chance? We're having an absolute nightmare trying to get somewhere.

MindMyOwnBeesSlacks · 26/07/2018 20:53

We are London, priced correctly and had a viewing and offer before we even hit rightmove.

I think, as you say, well presented well priced are flying but crap expensive are sitting (as it should be).

But, I've said this before, I was feeling twitchy about the London market. I'm relieved we have sold because it feels like there could be a dip. If that's where you are then maybe hold on a little longer?

EdisonLightBulb · 26/07/2018 21:01

We had this in 1988, every house snapped up, house prices rising daily, interest rates hit over 10%. Eventually things slowed and we got a house, then they crashed. We never went in negative equity but prices slowed for years.

EdisonLightBulb · 26/07/2018 21:01

Where are you, some local knowledge can be super helpful

Lilmisskittykat · 26/07/2018 21:03

I'll have some company with misery...

I have been looking for a house for a year now, as you say a lot of it out there is overpriced and run down.

In the whole time we have bid on one house which wasn't perfect but a great option and got outbid on it.. and we felt we were offering more than it was worth anyway.

It is so disheartening I absolutely agree. We've done the same sold my house then both moved back to separate parents houses to save /look out of a chain... it's wearing. So I honestly can understand what you are saying...

Every weekend is spent looking at houses got five lined up this Saturday alone.. and it's all over priced and run down so it's trying to gauge if the vendor is kite flying or will take a fair offer with the work that needs doing xx

MayFayner · 26/07/2018 21:06

IT WENT ONLINE ON TUESDAY PM, THEY SAID WE COULDN'T VIEW IT WEDNESDAY AND TODAY WAS THE EARLIEST APPOINTMENT SO HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?!?!?!?

Sometimes agents will give first dibs to the underbidder of another property or someone that is also selling and the agent wants to get the sale of the other house.

Unfair and a bit crap but there you go. Just try to build up as much rapport with agents as you can. When you view, hound them (nicely) about anything else they think they might have coming on stream.

MayFayner · 26/07/2018 21:07

Sorry- when I say first dibs I mean first dibs to view. Just to be clear.

Lilmisskittykat · 26/07/2018 21:10

I've also found that people have been given the nod by neighbours / friends etc.

One house we went to view had a board up for two weeks before it went live on right move I only knew about it as my uncle told me in passing...

It's so frustrating, I've tried the whole rapport thing, explaining what we want etc ... makes no difference in my experience

Original poster
janebee4 · 27/07/2018 09:40

Sorry I forgot to mention area, we're in Stockport just outside Manchester. It seems it's on the up as it's a great commuter town but far enough outside the city centre that there aren't as many issues. Around 10 properties come up a day on Rightmove but they're either way above budget (ours is around £200k) or they're around the £120/130k mark and that cheap for a reason (either tiny, area isn't good, or need completely renovating). Part of me thinks sod it I should just settle for something I don't want and we can stay for a few years and get on the ladder, but then we've been looking for so long and it's been so stressful I really don't want to do this again anytime soon! As you say Dahokolomoki, it's such an expensive purchase and the most money we'll probably ever spend so I don't want to get something just for the sake of it and regret it later.

Same Lilmisskittykat, we've tried going into branch, having a chat and tried to be as endearing as possible and nothing seems to work. We're in a good position as well, FTB with a decent deposit, mortgage all approved etc and not in rented so we could move at the drop of a hat. We also got outbid on a house we liked but thought was overpriced, and it just seems atm that people are so desperate for decent houses that they're paying way over the odds and it's pushing all the other prices up.

Thank you all for your replies, I'm glad it's not just me struggling with this (but also I do hope anyone looking finds something soon because I wouldn't wish this house hunting saga on anyone!)

OP posts:
AJPTaylor · 27/07/2018 09:48

tell everybody you know that you are looking for a house. you never know someone might just know someone!

notagain2018 · 27/07/2018 13:50

Its amazes my why the sellers are accepting an offer after only 1 viewing though. If I knew my house would 'fly off the market', I'd either have an open day or allow at least 6 viewings before accepting one.

jgm · 27/07/2018 14:22

Could you try leafleting areas you like? My friend did this, popped a note through houses on streets they liked saying what they were looking for and their position - 2 people called them straight away and they ended up buying from one of them.

MovingThisYearHopefully · 27/07/2018 14:22

Kissing the EA arses & getting them to like you definitely helps in my experience, so persevere with that.

Another thing you may or may not have considered is doing a leaflet drop in roads of interest. We did this three times & this generated viewings. Twice we offered on houses, but in the end we didn't get the right deal so didn't buy. Definitely worth a try. You could have a private sale, which means you could get away with offering a bit less. If you don't want to do this then speak to an EA you like & would be happy to work with. Get them to do it! Good luck!

RavenLG · 27/07/2018 14:26

Sometimes agents will give first dibs to the underbidder of another property

Yeah sorry to say this is true. I can’t say it’s crap and unfair as it’s probably the only way we got our house. We had offered on 4/5 and been outbid, ours came through to EA and while they were confirming details we got a call for first refusal. We viewed once, offered full asking price and got it.
It’s a hard situation! You will get there eventually Flowers

FabLaura · 27/07/2018 14:43

I can totally empathise here; we had the same. We spent years saving a deposit and thought the house viewing/ buying part would be fun - ha! It was the opposite!

You can get a happy ending though. After months we brought a beautiful house, in a great road which has increased well in price. Here's how we did it;

  1. Every Monday I would finish work early to do the estate agent rounds. Being polite to see what came in over the weekend. I even took cakes so they remembered me
  2. I found out some of the big brands have 'priority buyer' list, one even had this on a white board at the back of the shop. You need to get on there. They call these buyers ASAP, well before it goes on Right Move
  3. You need to see each Estate Agents Financial Advisor, each appointment took about 1 hour but you have to prove to them you can afford the house. Plus the individual Estate Agent (I think) gets a kick back for booking the appointment
  4. The house we ended up buying, we got in first. The owner was in the house the day of our viewing and I seriously sucked up. She liked us so went for us and no one else.

Good luck with it xxxx

FabLaura · 27/07/2018 14:49

P.S I did want to rip the Estate Agents effing heads off and thought if I was that incompetent at my job, my boss would have sacked me years ago!

Yogagirl123 · 27/07/2018 15:05

It is really hard finding the right property I agree. Keep looking you will get there in the end. The house we live in now sold within a week, and everything were I live goes really quick too. The leafleting idea is a good one. Good luck OP I hope you find a house soon.

Thedutchwife · 27/07/2018 15:10

jane it went so quick because some one at the estate agent bought it or allowed friend family to view it first.

Happens all the time

Cheeseislife · 27/07/2018 20:45

You could be me OP except I'm two years down the line and hardly viewing anything at the moment as it's gone dead over the summer... We've saved a good amount but aren't willing to compromise on what we want bearing in mind prices are falling in the local area and what does come on isn't selling. Some days I could cry with frustration but surely it will be worth it in the long term?

jennyj123 · 28/07/2018 10:11

Good tips but you need to be careful with

'You need to see each Estate Agents Financial Advisor, each appointment took about 1 hour but you have to prove to them you can afford the house. Plus the individual Estate Agent (I think) gets a kick back for booking the appointment'

By telling them all your finances some EA's (not all) can and will squeeze every last penny from you if they can.

Lilmisskittykat · 28/07/2018 10:23

I keep holding on to the whole it will be worth it in the long run view...

Had 6 viewings lined up today - not even kicked off yet and one has cancelled... hard work this house lark!

PatrickMerricksGoshawk · 28/07/2018 10:29

Whereabouts in Stockport are you looking?

Gottokondo · 28/07/2018 11:23

Where I live the prices are also rising and houses sell very very soon. I am clearing out my old city apartment (in a very very popular neighbourhood) to put it up for sale. I have been asked (via friends) by two different people if I will call them the second it goes up for sale because they are interested. So tell all your friends to keep an eye out, that's how it works now apparantly.

Gottokondo · 28/07/2018 11:30

And for the house that we bought we did this:
It went on sale on day 1, we immediately called for a viewing and said that we were available whenever. Viewed it on day 2 at 12 o'clock (we were the second viewers and there were three more coming at the end of the day). At 12:29 (I looked it up in my phone) we bid the asking price provided that they would answer the same day (to prevent a week long bidding war between interested parties). They took the bait.

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