AIBU to go on the market in Jan 2021

[stripeydress7]

We have a few things to 'line up' over the next few months - new schools, jobs etc. Are we mad to wait until Jan to go on the market? I'm nervous about going on now, it not proceeding and making 2+ families lose the chance of having the stamp duty holiday because we couldn't line up job or something in time. We can afford the stamp duty if we need to, but estate agents etc are pressuring us to go ahead now.

It depends how important the price is to you.

We offered on a house in August and because of delays in mortgages and searches, our expected completion date is currently sitting at the end of Nov. So anyone who buys your house probably won't be able to take advantage of the stamp duty reduction either, which will probably affect what they are prepared to offer.

We're already seeing a bit of a slow down in the market locally from a few weeks ago. I think the first mad flurry was influenced by people who lost under offer houses during lockdown and those who had put moving on hold because of Brexit uncertainty causing a lack of supply last year. Locally, most of that demand I expect has been sated and could explain the leveling off. Also sellers have gotten greedy with over high expectations!

Also, it probably depends on what you're selling for. £400-500k family home, sooner the better. But it it's more of a FTB buy at under £300k then there's less rush. The banks have already tightened up their LTV requirements to cut out anyone with a deposit lower than 15% so have already reduced the FTB market. And under £300k they won't pay stamp duty anyway.