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Original poster

Anyone not being picky - and STILL can't find anything?

999 replies

PessimisticOptimist · 11/09/2021 12:03

We've been on the hunt for 18 months. In that time, we've expanded our search area and budget. We've offered on four houses - three times we were outbid by developers and one time they decided not to sell. But nothing has come on for us to view in the last couple of months.

I guess I'm looking for a support group on here to commiserate with me 😂

Everyone we talk to says:

  • The market is crazy right now
  • It will settle down
  • More will become available eventually
  • Just be patient

But I worry about getting priced out of the market if we wait too long. How long do we wait for the "right" house?

OP posts:
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6
Momniscient · 27/10/2021 12:39

@BennyBean I think most people probably do want their houses listed as they want to view. It's an unavoidable chicken and egg situation!

Wow @WhereIsMyOnesie that sounds really difficult. Any feedback from the one viewer? What's transport like?

@Peaseblossum22 I hope those are two actual examples!

BennyBean · 27/10/2021 14:20

[quote Momniscient]@BennyBean I think most people probably do want their houses listed as they want to view. It's an unavoidable chicken and egg situation!

Wow @WhereIsMyOnesie that sounds really difficult. Any feedback from the one viewer? What's transport like?

@Peaseblossum22 I hope those are two actual examples![/quote]
it will hopefully settle down we'll see what interest we have when we list

DaisyNGO · 27/10/2021 18:40

Hello! This thread is like therapy! Please may I join?

I haven't had a chance to read it all yet!

But I noticed a couple of posters saying they didn't want to get into bidding wars.

I was hoping this wouldn't happen over flats but..we saw three flats in the last two days, about two hours away from London, where we are now. I realise everyone is scrambling to leave london but even so..

The one we really like has already had an offer over guide price. For a two bed, one bath, not modern and fancy flat.

We're pondering but tomorrow we might try offering on one of the others we saw. The third one appears to have no managing agent which I see is another topic - EA is scrambling to double check but I'm pretty sure it's just a case on relying on a freeholder to do stuff.

One EA said about 3/4 of sales happen before ads go out, so it's good we didn't delay, now at least we are signed with them and they hopefully will have us more in their minds now we've met.

WhereIsMyOnesie · 27/10/2021 19:26

[quote Momniscient]@BennyBean I think most people probably do want their houses listed as they want to view. It's an unavoidable chicken and egg situation!

Wow @WhereIsMyOnesie that sounds really difficult. Any feedback from the one viewer? What's transport like?

@Peaseblossum22 I hope those are two actual examples![/quote]
The house wasn't in another local town that they actually want to live in. I'm not even joking!

Peaseblossum22 · 27/10/2021 23:56

@Momniscient yes actual examples. I could add the one next to a scrap yard whose price has yo yoed over the past two years and is with three agents and several in the villages around a major controversial industrial development likely to happen in the next decade.

Momniscient · 28/10/2021 07:58

Welcome @DaisyNGO! Welcome to the horrors of buying right now

Momniscient · 28/10/2021 08:02

@WhereIsMyOnesie wow. I guess the only solution is to post a Rightmove link to your place on a new thread and maybe mumsnetters can give feedback? Not that I'm nosy or anything GrinWink

In all honesty I think if you're not getting viewings within three weeks maybe it does need price lowering (regardless of EA valuation, if the people buying disagree you're not going to get anywhere!) but I can understand the frustration

Momniscient · 28/10/2021 08:04

@Peaseblossum22 all I have to say to this is wow. That's quite something. I live in fear of accidentally buying a house like this as we're moving out the area. Any tips to avoid them? Other than really looking at Google maps, and searching for news of "town + development"?

DaisyNGO · 28/10/2021 08:20

@Momniscient

Welcome *@DaisyNGO*! Welcome to the horrors of buying right now
Thank you...sort of 😂

Expecting to hear this AM that our full asking price offer for the flat has been turned down, they've already been offered it but by someone in a chain.

So last night we started by saying we won't offer over and that we don't want a bidding war.

But we will actually offer £5k over as final offer though the EA says the other buyer is going to match it. I can't believe we're doing this but reading these stories, it seems normal. And in spring, it could be £10k over...

Peaseblossum22 · 28/10/2021 08:24

I think we all live in fear of this sort of thing, to be fair the one next to the planned by pass says clearly in the details that it’s been priced to reflect this and a bit of local research, or even a careful study of the photos, would reveal the others. One agent we know said in the summer that he had never seen anything like it , people were regularly offering unseen and of course if you are moving to a new area that’s a dangerous game.

The number of people I have met actually over the last decade who have moved, out of London in particular, to our still relatively rural area who clearly have not researched the reality is amazing. A classic complaint is the lack of takeaway delivery ( we have no just eats or Uber etc) , no taxis , no street lights, Farm vehicles at first light, lack of village school ( surely easy to research) etc. This year it’s just the same thing but writ large.

DaisyNGO · 28/10/2021 08:30

Pease "A classic complaint is the lack of takeaway delivery "

I can't believe anyone is unaware of that but also I'd consider it a bonus!

We were told people were offering without viewing. I don't want to keep trekking about but I have to do one view. I'd be happier with two of course.

I actually haven't registered with Boomin yet so I must do that today.

DaisyNGO · 28/10/2021 08:45

Oh and I am also seeing the two bed two baths we are after are marketed as "ideal for first time buyers". And they're more expensive than they were....and more expensive than London used to be.

Yesterday we saw one that said POA. For a two bed flat!

DaisyNGO · 28/10/2021 09:41

PS
interested in opinions
what would posters think about a small 2 bed with the bathroom at the front, completely away from the bedrooms?

so you'd have to walk through the lounge and the kitchen in order to get to the loo?

BennyBean · 28/10/2021 10:07

i don't think i would like that as i got older especially and it would be hard for your house alarm you would have to turn it on and off to walk through the rooms

FreeBritnee · 28/10/2021 10:12

We’ve sold now and still can’t find anything to buy 🥴

DaisyNGO · 28/10/2021 10:14

@BennyBean

i don't think i would like that as i got older especially and it would be hard for your house alarm you would have to turn it on and off to walk through the rooms
It's a small two bed flat There wouldn't be an alarm

I just think it's a bit...weird....to have to walk through, especially as I usually need the loo twice at night. 😳

The lights all seem to have a sensor setting, which I assume is due to having to walk through at night for the loo

Major Advantage of flat - whole top floor of small block, no next door neighbours
Very quiet location
It's about 700 sq feet but we currently do all right in 600

FanGirlX · 28/10/2021 10:21

So based on the comments on here, are we expecting an increase in houses in the market in the NY?

I wonder if agents are advising vendors not to put property on the market now to keep supply low and prices high?

BennyBean · 28/10/2021 10:56

@FanGirlX

So based on the comments on here, are we expecting an increase in houses in the market in the NY?

I wonder if agents are advising vendors not to put property on the market now to keep supply low and prices high?

Estate agent has told us to put it on now as we have a good chance of selling and we don't want to miss out on that, but i can't understand any agents telling people to wait as it's in their own interest to get properties on the market and get their selling fees the only problem we have is there's nothing suitable to buy in our search areas so i hope agents are not advising people to wait
Siouxtse1 · 28/10/2021 11:07

Might depend if the government are serious about linking mortgage availability to the energy efficiency of your home? Although, with the EPC system not even taking heat pumps (that apparently the government now want us to have instead of gas) into consideration, they might need to overhaul the EPC system first?

Just adds another layer to consider. I don't want to live in an identikit estate house. I like older, more individual and quirky houses. And I will sensitively insulate it (very expensive, can't just slap anything cheap and cheerful over building materials as the house still has to 'breathe'). But also have to consider that although I'm planning on living in my next house until I require care into old age, my house may not be worth anything like what I'd have to pay for it now.....

Lots of people won't put their houses on at the moment because you don't get the property shown in the best light during late autumn and winter. Or they worry because solicitors are often shut for two weeks over Christmas and New Year. (Would we even notice, conveyancing reportedly being so slow this year?)

It might be a really good time to sell/buy though. People advertising now are more likely to be doing so because they need to move, they won't all still be looking for an onward purchase. So that's better for buyers because it's less likely for people to just be testing the waters. And selling now could be beneficial because they'll be more competition in the New Year, when more people decide to move as a New Year's resolution.

Not likely to help prices reduce though, unfortunately.

Siouxtse1 · 28/10/2021 11:09

Sorry, there'll be, not they'll be.

Momniscient · 28/10/2021 15:07

@Siouxtse1 I was worried about the lighting this time of year, but honestly the photographer for ours came on a rainy day but the photos are stunning. It’s amazing what they can do with software nowadays. Interesting what you say about energy efficiency. Worth bearing in mind...

Momniscient · 28/10/2021 15:08

@DaisyNGO I wouldn’t go for the disconnected bathroom personally. I like a good upstairs bathroom, if nothing else for the convenience of a midnight loo dash. Cba with all the automatic lights either!

Momniscient · 28/10/2021 15:08

@Peaseblossum22 ok I’m less worried now – I’m fairly thorough with the research so we should be okay. I’d never offer unseen! Too reckless for me. We have many weekends of driving 4+ hours to see houses ahead of us instead, far more sensible :D Surely farm vehicles in a rural area is kind of expected..? Bizarre.

dubyalass · 28/10/2021 15:18

@Momniscient some of the rescues here won't let you adopt if you're on a main road, although that's a good point about getting cats that come from a similar environment, something to bear in mind - thanks :)

My dear dad has offered a bit of financial help in case it opens up more options, but having checked RM there's still nothing! I'm quite glad because I'm away this week anyway so couldn't do any viewings till I get back next week. Am now crossing my fingers that nothing new comes on!

MummyJ12 · 28/10/2021 15:28

Hi everyone,
Please can I join you on this thread?! It’s much needed.
We have been in rented since August, I am giving myself repetitive strain injury from scrolling on Rightmove!
There’s nothing out there at all and the house prices are scary. I feel like we’re going to be in rented forever! We’ve been actively looking since May when we went under offer. We sold in a week and the sale went through no problem so it’s all been a bit of a whirlwind. Now I miss my home that we sold and I’m not even sure we did the right thing…..