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Original poster

Feel rushed into to buying due to current market

23 replies

Cutestbaby · 18/08/2021 22:58

I am having terrible anxiety purchasing a new home for me and my children. And just after some opinions.

I offered at the end of July and all of the searches etc should be due back by the end of next week (according to my solicitor).
But for the last week or so I keep questioning my decision. I feel like I settled on the house as there is nothing else on the market plus I worry if I waited I will be out priced, as prices keep rising.

Main worries are :
It has been listed multiple times in the last few years and not sold. I had an explanation to why, that I thought had satisfied me(I posted about this specific point before)

I worry about its proximity to the road and road noise. Will this put off potential buyers when I decide to sell.
There is a train track that runs not far from it, but its a semi rural location so hardly any trains.

Children walk to school increased by 15 min amounting to 35 min each way. I won't be able to drop them off because of work. So they will be walking in all weathers. I only saw one other house before making an offer on this one, but like previously mentioned nothing came up on the market since then that is in my price range

I will be sinking most of my savings in to it and for the next 2 and a bit years it will be very tight until my youngest becomes 3 and childcare fees go down.

With all this doubt in mind, I just cannot decide whether I should carry on or pull out. But if I was to pull out I might wait indefinite amount of time and possibly not be able to afford to get a right size house. I know that ultimately its my decision, but would be great to hear someone else's point of view.

OP posts:

Original poster

Cutestbaby · 18/08/2021 23:05

I forgot to add that I also feel like I am letting my kids down by moving to a not so nice area (not undesirable though) from where we are now, but I simply don't have deep enough pockets to get a house there

OP posts:

tinselvestsparklepants · 18/08/2021 23:06

No house is forever. It's a hassle to move but presumably moving and buying is still a better option than renting? In which case you've really nothing to lose. You can't second guess the market. It might go up, down or sideways. I think you should hold on to the fact that you've made a good choice for your family for now out of what was available. Honestly you could agonise for ages, but as long as you can see and your family being happy there for a few years then you've done well. Enjoy your new home.

Original poster

Cutestbaby · 19/08/2021 21:18

@tinselvestsparklepants thank you!
I really needed to read this! You are so right and make so many valid points.
I am usually so rational, but going through a bit of an upheaval at the moment and feel like someone switched my brains over for the ones that belong to some old anxious monkey.

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PissedOffNeighbour22 · 19/08/2021 21:45

I settled on my house earlier this year and wish I hadn't. We really had to move and there were 2 houses we liked. One we loved but could foresee it being a money pit, the other needed a bit of work but would be ok for a few years - if we didn't like it we could move on in 5 or so years.

We chose house 2. Big mistake.

The house had been on the market on and off (mainly on) for at least 6yrs. Also quite close to a busy road. Road didn't seem too bad when we viewed a couple of times. Turns out the road is busy 24/7. Heavy traffic during the night and we also get a ridiculous amount of air traffic low overhead (no idea why).

The house is a huge money pit already. It needs ten times more money spending on it than we expected, a hell of a lot more wrong with it than came back on the survey, it stinks of damp (didn't at the viewings), and nothing can wait a few years to be done as it's all so disgusting.

I'd started to get doubts about the house a couple of months before completion whereas my DP felt the opposite. I wish I'd listened to my gut feelings about it.

I think about the other house pretty much everyday :(

Gettingonabitnow · 19/08/2021 22:09

35 mins is a long walk before and after school I’d say x

Original poster

Cutestbaby · 19/08/2021 22:12

@PissedOffNeighbour22 I am really sorry to hear this happened to you. Buying houses is such a gamble just never know what you are truly getting. Could be something to do with the fact that we only see it for a few minutes, what sort of judgement can be formed in that time. I really hope you uncovered all of the nasty surprises now and maybe if you just concentrate on making it look good you could try to sell again in shorter time than planned.

I also tend to listen to my gut, but I am not entirely sure whether it's just pure unreasonable anxiety that is affecting me at the moment or that gut feeling.
I also have no issues with the house itself, I won't need to do anything to it apart from a lick of paint. I think it's the location that bothers me. If I could pick it up and move to where I am now, I would not think twice. But I would also not be able to afford it then...

OP posts:

Original poster

Cutestbaby · 19/08/2021 22:17

@Gettingonabitnowf yes I agree, this is why it's on my worry list. And getting a bus is also not a solution as they will need to walk a bit to get to the bus stop then go for a round the block trip to get closer to school, then walk again. We have discussed going on bikes, so might be an option

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Grumpycatsmum · 19/08/2021 23:21

The only thing that would make me think twice is the walk for the kids. Is there a school bus at all? If not is there a breakfast club/aftercare option. it other mums you could share lifts with?

latte101 · 19/08/2021 23:25

I've moved due to road noise, it wasn't just the noise, it was the pollution. I had just had DS and I was so worried about it.

I also think 35 mins is a long walk to school, especially in the darker months x

Original poster

Cutestbaby · 20/08/2021 07:52

Unfortunately, due to the location it is quite a walk to the bus stop too and that particular one does not take you up to the school either. They are however a secondary school children, so we are considering cycling.

OP posts:

Original poster

Cutestbaby · 20/08/2021 07:54

@latte101 pollution is a worry. I can imagine how grimy those windows can get

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Muma1992 · 20/08/2021 08:08

I had a half an hour walk to school and back. Other children will be walking the same way. Really not a big deal :)

ShuddaBeenMe · 20/08/2021 08:36

35 minutes in the cold and dark would be a deal breaker for me. And the fact it's not sold. I don't think it's better than renting if you get trapped in a house you don't like and can't sell.

I go with my gut and if it's not right I would keep looking. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Newgirls · 20/08/2021 08:40

Can you hang out there at peak times for traffic and see how it feels to you? Go and meet some neighbours today? Do anything to give you a bit more information? Do the school walk again? It might help you visualise it all and really experience what it will be to live there?

If not ideal why not see it as your ‘rental’ house though you are buying it and tell yourself you will sell/move in 3-5 years? So not forever.

Roselilly36 · 20/08/2021 08:59

It’s such a big decision isn’t it. The only advice I would give, is what my solicitor said to me. She said, never buy a problem, if it’s a problem buying, it will be a problem should you want to sell. We did pull out of that purchase, as the survey was very adverse., and highlighted an number of unexpected issues. If it doesn’t feel right, don’t do it.

EverydayCook · 20/08/2021 09:03

@Newgirls - my husband told me to think of our current house as a rental for a few years and, nice as it is, I still never settled.

We’re trying to move now OP and experiencing the same as you - nothing to buy and a fear that this level will keep rising out of reach if we wait. I have decided not to panic and settle while there are so few houses on the market. We saw one yesterday that theoretically ticks all the boxes but on a road and I hated it. Similarly it had been on for ages a couple years ago and didn’t sell. This year they’ve had multiple offers. No one wanted it pre pandemic and the massive backlog of buyers. Someone will buy in haste and repent at leisure.

As suggested above I’d go back and listen to the road, do the walk/cycle, spend a bit of time looking at the house again (get a reassurance viewing) before taking any big decisions.

middleager · 20/08/2021 09:27

Is there any potential to extend your current house?

We moved in a rush a few years ago for school deadlines and I wish we'd stayed put and extended our property. This was my gut feeling and I wish I'd gone with it.

BennyBean · 20/08/2021 11:58

@PissedOffNeighbour22

We chose house 2. Big mistake.

I'd started to get doubts about the house a couple of months before completion whereas my DP felt the opposite. I wish I'd listened to my gut feelings about it.

I think about the other house pretty much everyday :(

we moved because we thought we needed to downsize and be more near to the shops and have a better garden not a steep one like we had before with steps i was in a turmoil all the way through the sale i really wish i had listened to my gut feelings but we had been here 4 years before the big regret set in and i cannot stop thinking about our other house which was much nicer we have renovated throughout but i just don't want to live here anymore i am giving it until the new year if i feel the same we have to sell life is too short to be unhappy in your home it effects your everyday life and health so anyone who has any doubts about moving please think carefully because it can really effect your life

Angliski · 20/08/2021 12:03

We are in a boom cycle, historically these last a couple of years. So if you were a friend I would definitely say buy something now and you cans ell it for more ina couple of years. However, your misgivings suggest that this might not be the right something… trust your gut on that.

PicsInRed · 20/08/2021 15:31

If on and off the market and near train tracks I would query knotweed.

Newgirls · 21/08/2021 07:50

Knotweed has to be declared in the paperwork? I would hope an estate agent would say if that is the reason as I doubt they want another sale to falter.

It can be treated by the way but it has to have a plan in place.

PicsInRed · 21/08/2021 08:28

@Newgirls

Knotweed has to be declared in the paperwork? I would hope an estate agent would say if that is the reason as I doubt they want another sale to falter.

It can be treated by the way but it has to have a plan in place.

In theory yes, but read today's post on this thread. The professionals won't always disclose what you think they would/should or are legally obliged to.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/property/4274187-The-dreaded-Japanese-knotweed

altiara · 21/08/2021 08:36

35 min walk is not a big deal for secondary age children.
But I would be concerned about it not previously selling. Because it’s not just your home, it’s an investment and if you need the money and can’t sell it, it would worry me.

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