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

[PessimisticOptimist]

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?

The location is not good but I am honestly worried that if we don't crack on then a) prices will get more insane and b) properties will stop coming on, which will then lead to more a).....

It's like a mania at the moment. I think I'm going to stop my search and start again in January.

I saw an article earlier that was comparing the COVID house price boom to the COVID puppy price boom. I'll see if I can find it and link to it. It was basically saying puppies tripled in price due to unprecedented demand and short supply during the pandemic but now they are back to pre COVID prices. That said the factors underpinning the house price boom are more complex - shift in ways of working / patterns, low interest rates etc.

@TheNoonBell Twigs in a vase! Wow that takes me back. Are those still a "thing"?

@areyouhavingagiraffe woo! Such a shame the new RM bracket does give you what you’re after. We had a similar moment when the valuation of our house was higher than we thought (I always work to worst case scenario…) and it was such a let down to discover actually there’s not much in it! Maybe you’ll find something in the old budget that’s more of a project and you can splash some cash?

@ablutiions how did your viewing go??

@DaisyNGO I think a lot of people are offering after just the one viewing, judging by the “on rightmove on Thurs/Fri, sold the following Tues/Wed” pattern I keep seeing for places in the midlands. Maybe some areas are better for it. I will keep everything crossed you get to the second viewing!

@ByeByeMissAmericanPie

It would be interesting to hear (roughly) where you are in the uk?

The house I described above is in West Surrey.

We’re in Berkshire, trying to move to the midlands – somewhere in the Sheffield/Nottingham/Birmingham triangle

RE: your post; did you have any feedback from viewers? Maybe there’s something you’re not seeing about your place?

So, we’ve had our viewing for tomorrow cancelled – one of their family has tested positive so they can’t do any viewings for two weeks! Dangit. Agent assured us that we’re still “first” for precisely two week’s time though, so now we wait. My first thought when my phone rang was "oh wow it's been bought already" so I'm focusing on the positives!

So, instead, we’re going to see a “meh” house that I can’t stop looking at despite the location. I think it’s a No, but my gut says to go view it and just go to be sure we want to strike it off… the location really isn’t great. My wife isn't too thrilled about the location either but there is space for a pool table in the converted garage and honestly that's the main draw

Really disappointed we have to wait two weeks to see the original plan. Two weeks seems ages! I know it’ll go in a flash… at maybe by then our place will have sold and it’ll all work out perfectly… I can but hope!

We’re in York. Looking ideally Tadcaster rd area. There’s a couple of houses on but one has a postage stamp sized N/W garden and a really weird layout and the other is a grade II listed former B&B that looks haunted!
We’re lucky enough to have a big budget but still nothing on…..

Well nearly at the end of another very disappointing house hunting week here in West Yorkshire

@Momniscient, yeah I think I will look for up to somewhere between the two budgets, which leaves me with some wriggle room. Saw a place yesterday, didn't even like it "on paper" but went along anyway. Was just dire and not worth getting out of bed for.

I hope this is the right place to ask as we've only seen three places and due to do a second viewing tomorrow - I have been waffling away and realised the title doesn't really apply to us...yet...!

Is anyone having to do a long trip to view properties and do you think you'd ever offer without a second viewing?

Last week we stayed in the area
tonight just I'm going back to stay with a local relative and do the second viewing

I feel a bit guilty because I've gone from thinking "oh this is a good option" to being unhappy about the particular location. DP doesn't mind at all but I think it's a busy junction. (compared to London, it's not a busy junction to be fair). I even had a moment this morning when I thought, urgh, am I going to bother...when thinking about train times to return tomorrow.

Sorry, that was a brain dump.

it's more a case of ....I think we can do better. But having said I will stay with my rellie, it's good to go and look around the area in the morning anyway and then perhaps when more comes up, I'll be better placed to say "okay, that particular spot is wrong".

this is a big block of flats, so if the flat had been at the rear of the block, facing the car park, that actually would be fine.

I also feel I'm wasting the vendor's time a bit but then the first viewing is such a rush, you almost feel you haven't seen anything!

I think the EA did rush us actually because the vendor was waiting outside. In future I might say "we need 30 mins to look around properly".

Yes it's finally showing signs of slowing down up here in a NW town. Overpriced houses are sitting on the market, crazy bidding wars aren't happening price reductions think there's less confidence in the markwt. We actually bought a car because we gave up which has put a dent in funds we should have saved enough by new year to buy again.

We offered after a first viewing, but it fell through. Honestly, I was a bit relieved as it felt too fast. In this market though, second viewings are seen as a luxury.

Viewing was good. It's a nice house and needs nothing doing, but the compromises are:

East facing garden (the main reason to move is a bigger garden for growing stuff)
No offstreet parking so we'd have to put it in
Kitchen smaller than our current one , so no room for a sofa and our beautiful table wouldn't fit
Very tip top of our budget.

It doesn't set my heart alight and it's a very sensible house. I don't often do sensible

Evening all,
Let’s hold out for when our hearts say yay. We deserve nothing less.
We will all be here when we find it.
We’ll hopefully all get there in the end xx

@MummyJ12

Evening all, Let’s hold out for when our hearts say yay. We deserve nothing less. We will all be here when we find it. We’ll hopefully all get there in the end xx

i hope we all do find our new home and soon this is the last time i am moving, this was supposed to be our forever home but it hasn't worked out as we thought so finding the next one will be harder because it has to be 100% right lets see what this week brings good luck everyone x

AAH we have an absolute dillema here...

On Thursday we had an offer accepted on a house we like, but in an area we like less. It was a slow couple of weeks on RM, and we desperately need to move by spring, so we thought we'd offer as we can definitely make the house / area work, but it's in a village outskirts rather than the main town we want to move to.
Not actioned solicitors yet- but proprty under offer.

On saturday, a different EA called us about a property a couple of doors away from one we LOVED, but didnt get offer accepted on, has come onto market and do we want to view / offer. We went for a drive round today and it's definitely in a much better area, and about £50k cheaper (asking price)...
Is this a huge no-no to view and probably offer on it?

I don't want to screw over the vendors of the hosue we've an offer accepted on, but equally, it was only a 'good' option when this other one seems to work better for us.

I’d definitely view it, this sort of thing happens all the time. You’re spending a lot of money; the house needs to be the right one.

@Momniscient - it does have drawbacks... which are drawbacks for buyers but seemingly not for renters!

Parking is an issue in the street, the neighbours tree is blocking some light out of the garden, but it’s being coppiced very soon. the house is structurally fine, but tired. It’s had some damp issues that have now been resolved, but plasterwork needs replacing. So feedback was:
Parking
Damp
Dark garden.

On the upside, you’re 300m from the station, SW facing garden and within the catchment area of a very sought after state school.

I know...I know... a house will only sell for what it’s worth... but this is all tied up with divorce finances, which means dropping the price will have a domino effect elsewhere.

Urgh.

I agree. Second viewings need to take place while the agent is still there doing the first viewings!

@onanadventure

Yes view. You will always be kicking yourself if not. It's a sellers market so the other vendor will find someone

I would definately go view you have to think about yourselves and whats best for you don't make a mistake buying the wrong property we have done that and it's not a good outcome

@onanadventure definitely go for it. It's a huge amount to spend and it needs to be right

onanadventure They'd do the same...? Most people would?

Did second viewing alone this morning. My feeling is if it was the 15th property I'd seen, I'd offer. DP thinks it's fine but I think it's a too busy road.

He thinks nothing much will come on now till March or prices will go up.

I think the market will continue to be busy myself.

We bought a house on a side road but that has got really busy lately this is partly why we are moving
property is still coming on we are still looking because one day that perfect property will come up and we need to be ready

@BennyBean

We bought a house on a side road but that has got really busy lately this is partly why we are moving property is still coming on we are still looking because one day that perfect property will come up and we need to be ready

We're already on a busy road...I'm not completely anti as I realise compromise has to happen somewhere, but when we know there are blocks of flats along side roads quite close to this one, it seems a bit odd to offer now, having seen so little.

Also, I think with modern build flats, you have to work on the basis of windows being open at least four months of the year as they tend to be over insulated.

I've literally spent all morning perusing RM. I need to stop. I have set up my alerts 9for my new budget) and I think I should just wait for these. It is so disheartening. But, I keep telling myself it has only been 3 months since my completion, and I am not buying a berluddy sofa, it is a house. And it will take however long it takes.

@areyouhavingagiraffe

I've literally spent all morning perusing RM. I need to stop. I have set up my alerts 9for my new budget) and I think I should just wait for these. It is so disheartening. But, I keep telling myself it has only been 3 months since my completion, and I am not buying a berluddy sofa, it is a house. And it will take however long it takes.

Ach, it's going to give you eye strain!

Is it worth joining Boomin? Puts me off that they want a mobile phone number. Is it really up to much?

@areyouhavingagiraffe

I've literally spent all morning perusing RM. I need to stop. I have set up my alerts 9for my new budget) and I think I should just wait for these. It is so disheartening. But, I keep telling myself it has only been 3 months since my completion, and I am not buying a berluddy sofa, it is a house. And it will take however long it takes.

i know how you feel i'm on them all the time but get disappointed because nothing new appears, but i'll just keep looking i'm sure your new home will appear soon