Help! House purchase fell through

[NakedMum33and3rd]

I'm devastated
Long story, going through a divorce.
Sold family home in June and me and three DC's moved in with my parents. Had my offer accepted on a property in May.
We were about to exchange and the seller pulled out on Friday.
There is hardly anything on the market and I am really struggling living with my mum and dad as they really don't want us here. My children are 9, 7 & 2 and my parents are in their 70's so are struggling.

I saw another house yesterday and it is on a road which is a through road. A lot of cars and foot traffic. I'm not really used to this and it worries me slightly. However it is the only thing on the market at the moment. The house itself is perfect. It is just the position.
I feel quite pressured. What would you do?

I'm so sorry OP. Your kids are older - I'd take the house. I put an offer on a similar house so advising from experience.

Thank you. Yes I'm definitely leaning towards it. I have booked in a second viewing.

I used to live on a busy road (just renting) and would never do it again. The loveliness of the house didn't offset the passing traffic at all.

Are you able to go and check it out at different times of day to see just how bad it would be?

We live on a busy junction and I would never live on a main road again. The noise , the dirt off the road on the windows and in the house . You can’t relax in the garden without sounding like you’re on a motorway .

No never again !

Could you maybe look at renting for a while for some breathing space ?

OP, it all sounds very tough

Can you take a rental for a while? Not sure if any benefits situation to help you pay, I might be wrong but I think house sale proceeds are discounted as ‘savings’ for a certain amount of time.

@NakedMum33and3rd I really feel for you - we are in a similar situation currently living with family and have overstayed our welcome. What about a rental for 6 months? I personally wouldn’t buy that house because of exactly your concerns.

X

I would definitely rent for now if that's an option. It takes the pressure off and gives you time to find something without rushing into it and maybe regretting a decision in a year or two.

It depends. Is the house set back at all? Is there a space for your car?
I bought a house on a busy through road in between two schools. It was big, detached, and had an in and out drive (the street is double yellow lines), but no greenery or gate. Also at a traffic lights one house down. Bus route.
It was fine! Being set back meant I didn’t feel encroached on with all the kids walking to and from school, and the traffic light meant people had to drive quite slowly. My main rooms (kitchen, living room and principal bedrooms) were at the back, and dining room and kids games room and guest bedroom at the front. Traffic did die down considerably at night. I picked it as the same size house would have been unaffordable on a quieter street.
However when I came to sell it, the road was the number one reason people hesitated. Though ironically a friend who sold their much smaller house on a ‘desirable’ cul de sac says she suffered all year long with people cutting through the walkway to go to the pubs in the town centre, and coming home late being quite loud and rowdy. I never had that.

Thank you for all of your replies. The house is set back about 8 metres and has a driveway.

The road is a 30 mph road but has a bus route and has cars parked on either side too when there is not a drive. Cars tend to go down there quite fast seeing as visibility is bad but it is not a main main road if you see what I mean?

I'm going back on Wednesday and am going to take my mum and listen to my gut.

Thanks

Our house is in a similar position to yours, on a road but set back with a good front garden. I loved the house and village when we bought a couple of years ago, and anyway at the time there was nothing else available in the area we wanted. I can honestly say neither of us have ever regretted our decision. I actually like looking out of the window and seeing a bit of life going oin around us, previously we were in the country where the main vehicles were tractors, which used to make the house shake!!!! As you say, go with your gut feeling. Hope the viewing goes well.

I had a Positive Input Insulation system fitted in my 1780s house.

Lots of damp, wet to touch throughout the house. Dare I say that most of it is drying out...

This explains how it works

www.envirovent.com/products/positive-input-ventilation-piv/

Wrong thread 🙄

Rent and wait it out!!

You could put an offer in & keep your eyes open for a week or so (delay doing much for that time just get a solicitor)

I would be reluctant to buy it just to get out of your mum and dad’s as it seems that this is the pressure point. Could you look at renting, even if vaguely unsuitable (2 bed, Airbnb) for a couple of months? I suspect more will come on the market in September with people wanting to be in by Christmas. I hated living on a busy road and it is not great health wise for the kids either.

Our house sale fell through twice and we ended up taking a long term rent - 18 months. It gave us chance to breathe and find what we really wanted. I worried about unsettling the kids but it was ok.

Oh no! Do you know why your vendors pulled out last minute? I'm terrified that will happen with us too. If renting is an option, might be worth it to avoid feeling pressurised into a purchase you may regret. We are currently renting for a similar reason and it's okay!