Third purchase about to fall through

[Raisinclub]

Surely we can’t be the only people this unlucky?

First house - vendor took it off the market after 2 months

Second house - we couldn’t get a mortgage due to structural work that had no regulation sign off

Third house - vendor has taken it off the market again as their seller, who promised to go into rented, decided to buy somewhere which needs probate.

We are going to complete on our sale and move 200 miles away to stay with family, thank god for WFH! But the market is crazy vs when we last looked in January.

Has anyone else ever been this unlucky?!

Im surprised about the second one- unless the structure was faulty they could have got a regularisation certificate.
But yes - not me personally biut it seems many chains are falling apart due to a variety of reasons. But is it more than usual? I'm not sure about that. I have heard figures in the past (pre-pandemic stamp duty thing) that a quarter of sales fail to complete. I blame the awful system in this country.
But it is very unlucky and stressful for you to have it happen three times! I'm really hoping my purchase goes through- vendor still hasn't found an ongoing purchase after two months since accepting my offer. I have told my buyers I will go into rental, at great cost and inconvenience, but at least the chain below me can go ahead, and I will become a cash buyer.

Three times! Poor you. We’ve just had a vendor pull out on us. Decided they didn’t want to sell after all. I’m still heartbroken. How did you cope with that three times?! It’s enough to make you want to stay out forever!

It’s an awful system in England and Wales that encourages time wasters and the deceitful. We’re on our third attempt at a purchase (1. No building regs on huge new extensions and roof height changes 2. ongoing boundary disputes involving police). Thankfully this one seems fine just waiting for searches. A lot of chain collapses could be avoided if we had detailed homebuyer packs prepared in advance, paid for by vendors. I’m sorry op, hope the right one comes along soon. Our 3rd attempt is the best house so far which has given me a bit of satisfaction amongst the grumpiness I feel about all the money and time I’ve wasted on conveyancing, not to mention the stress.

Yes, we feel incredibly unlucky!! I think we've been trying to move since I was pregnant with my second, he's 5 now 🤣 We've been gazumped, lost a buyer due to an accident (couldn't manage stairs any longer), had sellers pull out, and something else I can't remember. We have given up several times - we went traveling for 12 months at one point due to frustration! We've now sold and are in rented - still waiting for the right house 🙂

I feel for you, the most stressful thing I have ever done.

@Changingwiththetimes

Im surprised about the second one- unless the structure was faulty they could have got a regularisation certificate. But yes - not me personally biut it seems many chains are falling apart due to a variety of reasons. But is it more than usual? I'm not sure about that. I have heard figures in the past (pre-pandemic stamp duty thing) that a quarter of sales fail to complete. I blame the awful system in this country. But it is very unlucky and stressful for you to have it happen three times! I'm really hoping my purchase goes through- vendor still hasn't found an ongoing purchase after two months since accepting my offer. I have told my buyers I will go into rental, at great cost and inconvenience, but at least the chain below me can go ahead, and I will become a cash buyer.

Regularisation can be very time consuming and messy, depending on the extent of the work that needs signing off and how far any building regs checks went. The first house we pulled out on would have needed the roof and building ties exposing plus bore holes into the foundations. They also wouldn’t have ever met building regs on some of the work so it would have needed extensive redoing. This came to light months ago and it’s not appeared back on the market.

We're in the West Country and chains are collapsing left, right and centre because people who thought they were going to WFH forever have suddenly realised they're not going to be able to... It's such a mess, the whole thing. Sorry you've had such a run of problems - the way the housing market works in this country is inexcusable.

They wouldn’t have got regularisation and flat out refused to allow the more intrusive structural survey our lender wanted.

Staying put not an option sadly! We are currently in my tiny house as my partner sold his to move in with me in the short term and make things easier.

Homes buying and selling is horrific. I've never been so stressed at we are right the end end of ours.
I think searches etc should be carried out before the house goes on the market. Then it'll be much quicker and any nasty surprises will pop up before there is investment and heartache

(Hugs)

I think this is going to happen more often due the this crazy situation where you have to be under offer before you're even allowed to view stuff. I know of 3 families who are under offer but can't find anything. They also can't find any rentals.

All have young children, so the risk and upheaval is too much. My bet is these sales will collapse in a couple of months and there will be some very disappointed buyers.

Regarding your situation though, are you able to wait in the wings whilst the probate goes through? It might not be quick, but potentially worth the wait?

I completely agree that having to be under offer at the outset is likely a factor. Too much to cue up at once. We really want to move, but I find the whole idea so stressful - starting with the fact I can’t even get a good idea of what’s out there without having put my own house up for sale and getting a buyer. I’m not someone who needs to move for x number of bedrooms or to a particular area, but I am looking for a ‘nicer’ house and I’m open to what that could look like. Not being able to do anything other than look on rightmove means it’s overwhelming. Everything is too finely balanced now. I guess we’ll have to take the plunge at some point and go on the market, but i definitely have in mind that it may not result in a sale. That’s not a mindset I’ve ever had when looking to move before.

Also like the searches up front idea. We have “something to declare”, which is another factor in thinking this is all too stressful. I’d rather get it out there up front, but the view appears to be that this isn’t done, so I feel if I went against that I’d risk making the Thing into a much bigger deal than it actually is. It’s all a game with very rigid rules.

OP, I really do feel for you. I have heard of unluckier movers (a vendor who had five buyers pull out for various reasons - they sold to number six though!), but hopefully you’ve had your share now. At least you have the option to be with family - not great, I’m sure, but it gives you some flexibility for when the next house comes along. Best of luck with it all!