So fed up of property search

[NancySpero]

We sold up in London 3 years ago to move more rurally. As we didn't know the area and there was a possibility of our financial situation improving significantly, we decided to go into rented for a year to ease the pressure and put us in a better position. 12 months later, our finances were indeed much improved and we started looking for houses.

Since then we've only seen 3 houses we really liked as it seems not many come up in the area we are looking. The first we hesitated as it was on a busy road and someone else snapped it up. The second a year later was outside where we were looking, in a village I didn't really like and to my shame we pulled out shortly after our offer was accepted (there was another buyer waiting in the wings who snapped up the property immediately which makes me feel less guilty for our change of heart).

Finally in Sept we extended our search area and saw a dream house that was a bit above budget but had been on the market for a few years as it's a huge project. We were considering it when they dropped the price and my son got a place at the senior school down the road. We thought it was meant to be and things were finally working out in our favour. We put in an offer and suddenly 2 other buyers appeared and matched our offer. It went to best and final and we put in an asking price offer but it went to one of the other buyers who offered over asking. We can't afford to go higher.

I'm heartbroken and feel like it's never going to happen for us. Please cheer me up with stories of how you lost out on a house but it worked out in the end.

We bought our house, having viewed and viewed and offered on several, but nothing was coming on the market that was suitable and in the right area. We had an offer accepted on a property where another buyer dropped out, all was proceeding but there was some info being held back by the vendors, and our solicitor was getting pressure for us to sign, turned out there was a reason the other buyers dropped out, and it meant we had to drop out as well. In desperation I rang round all the local EA and one said 'Oh we have this one, it's possibly a bit over priced (almost 20% above our budget) but they have found a property now so they might take an offer', he faxed over the detail we went to see it immediately, and they did indeed accept an offer well below asking but within budget for us as we had no chain by then.

Also, do get back to the EA about the dream house, and let them know that if the chain does fall apart, to get back in touch as you are immediately proceedable as you have nothing to sell and not found anywhere yet - that was how we got our house because they had found somewhere to buy and needed theirs sold ASAP.

Thanks Ariela, I've let the agent know and just dropped the vendors a quick email (they sent us a direct email during negotiations which is why we have their address) saying that if anything happens to their sale our offer is still on the table. Can't think it will fall through but nothing to lose.

Sympathies, OP, it can feel like a terrible grind when it's happening.

If it's the slightest consolation, we moved countries last year, having already had an offer accepted on a house in our new country, after a bidding war that took us right to the top of our budget. We had to pull out at the last minute when something serious belatedly emerged courtesy of our surveyor, and spent lockdown in an AirBnb, still looking we had very specific area criteria for various reasons, not a place where many houses come up, and when they do, they tend to be huge projects although most agents weren't showing. We saw literally everything (not much) that was for sale in the area when lockdown ended, offered on the only one that was possible -- and moved in a month ago, eight months after we should have been moving into the other house we almost bought.

And with the benefit of hindsight and despite the fact that this house is pretty battered, and we'll have to renovate slowly it's a beautiful house, with a lovely view and a southern and western aspect, a huge (jungle) garden into which we're going to extend in time, coveted off-street parking (which is rare in the area because of the steep terrain), and it's definitely better, as well as considerably cheaper, than the House That Got Away.

Also, don't obsess about it, but bear in mind that the over-offer buyers may drop out. I can think of two friends moving house in two different countries this year, both of whom were outbid, only to have the other bidder pull out, and be offered the house again. (Actually both said no, but there you go!)

Thank you PigsInHeaven and so glad it worked out for you after what sounds like a stressful search. I'll try not to obsess about the one that got away, although easier said than done!

OMG, tell me about it. We've been looking for a year now. The search for a house reminds me of the search for a husband - the good ones are out of your league or instantly snapped up by someone else, the bad ones just hang around for months and you're not interested. I just hope it won't take 55 failures to find the right one.....or another 27 years of being alive.....

My sympathies. Can’t add anything positive yet but have been looking for around a year with a brief spell putting ours on the market in the summer. Saw something decent today for first time in ages but already a lot of interest in it.

It has spurred my friend on to see if she can get planning on her land though. Big long shot but if she does then we get to build our own which we have always wanted to do. Good luck, hope something comes along soon.

Sorry to hear others are going through this too :(

BeijingBikini you're right it is like finding a husband, although I was pretty efficient at doing that compared to my house buying ability

Totally with you OP.

Long story but unexpectedly sold my house, off market, to a cash buyer who wanted the house and all furniture. Just a few weeks later (she was desperate to be in for Christmas) I landed here, in what I thought was going to be a temporary bolthole.

Two years later I still can’t find anything. There have been a few beyond my price range, three I have been outbid on and one that I was warned off by a builder friend who knew the property.

I feel stuck and frustrated. There is little point in furnishing somewhere I don’t intend staying and all I think we can do is wait for the market to calm down and new stock to come on once the Spring arrives.

However, I have been in a similar position once before, ending up for several winter months in a holiday cottage. The house that materialised then was worth waiting for and with cash in the bank, my offer was snapped up.

Fingers crossed for you !!

You made the right choice in not over extending yourself. There's always a different place to find and depending on how flexible you are will affect that.
Pretty sure you'll find something; we had a nightmare selling our house and we lost several 'dream' houses because of it. We ended up finding a project house in a great location and are very happy. Never bloody moving again though!

Yes I know we made the right choice in not bidding more. The house needed so much work we just couldn't go over budget.

I'm just so fed up of the waiting and hoping and not being able to settle in our rental. We are in a lovely house with great landlords but it's not mine and I can't do anything with it and that makes me so sad as the years pass and my children get older. I feel like their childhood is passing without anywhere to call home.

Probably a bit melodramatic but just so sad and frustrated with it all.

It is really tough. We moved overseas for work and left our much loved home in London. For various reasons, we ended up renting for longer than planned. I felt the same as you in relation to the DC and feeling guilty they weren’t in their ‘forever home’. On the other side now I realise that it made no difference. Home is with me and with DH, not bricks and mortar. I hope you find your home soon but be assured it’s having no impact on the DC.

I sympathise @NancySpero - we own a property elsewhere and are long-term renters. There is part of me that yearns for a forever home but it won't be where I live right now. Prices have skyrocketed too much for that unfortunately.