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?

I was thinking that quite a few of the relistings I've seen have probably been panic bought by desperate people who've then realised prior to exchange that the house is totally unsuitable/in a crap location/not worth what they offered. I remember someone saying on here that during the stamp duty holiday even the dross seemed to go quickly, which isn't the case here any more.

Hello, my people

Massive sympathies. We are:

1. Owners of a house we can’t sell (two attempts so far this year, resounding lack of interest) in a lovely ‘sought-after’ bit of SE London - catchment of good primaries and a couple of decent secondaries plus close to private schools, off-street parking, nice garden, fab kitchen - but as you can’t convert the sodding loft, apparently totally uninteresting. We are living abroad and can’t afford mortgage payments plus our rent so have had to re-tenant it but it’s costing us money and we just want to sell it. So these stories of multiple offers are

1. About to move back to UK to a new area, which is one of the ones everyone wants. By a miracle we’ve got a tenancy on a lovely house (the only non-grim rental I saw online in three months of looking) so I don’t think we’ll mind living there for as long as it takes but as a PP said, I’ve gone from wishing we didn’t need to take out a 12 month tenancy to thinking we’ll probably be there years. Almost no suitable houses to buy have come up since I’ve been haunting RightMove.

So next year will be trying to sell for the third time at a low a price as we can bear, while we save like crazy now to cushion the possible months of double mortgage/rent after our current tenants leave and it’s on the market/conveyancing. And wondering how on Earth we’re going to find somewhere to buy.

If anyone might be remotely interested in ou very lovely SE London house, do PM me. I’ll save it for you!

dubya I haven't thought about relists but that seems likely.

double I sometimes think it's just sheer luck. I hope you get a buyer soon.

I can give a summary of the day if anyone wants it but must make dinner!

The short version is encompassed by my query here

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/property/4394766-Buying-a-housing-assoc-flat

We had 3 viewings of our house this week since price has been reduced - 2 thought it was too small downstairs although one wanted to bring her husband to see it anyway and the other thought it was the best house they'd seen locally but not for them (which makes me wonder what they're looking for?!). The third viewing they thought it was too big.

Trying to remember it's just feedback and they've got to say something to the estate agent!

Thanks @BerryTiredMama we are very excited!

@DaisyNGO today we visited a wildcard location (basically further east than we'd ever previously considered). Turned up 5mins early to no sign of the EA. Knocked on the door and the owner was in with one DC. He told us the EA was running late (nobody had told us) but offered to show us around. The house was packed with features and decent sized rooms. Definitely opportunity to add value down the line with a ground floor extension but not necessary right now. East facing 100ft garden with summer house and environment proof (heating and electric). Sounds amazing right?
Downside, it is very close to a main/busy road though can't hear it from the inside of the property or the garden. However I do worry turning in/out of our property with loud/crying toddler in the back seat.

Location details: 20/25min walk to the tube, 15min walk to "outstanding primary school" (current owners kids attend), day nursery enroute to the tube so good for drop off/commute, backs onto gorgeous green space.

Am I over thinking this? Would you go for it? I want to (DH says we'll put an offer in on Monday) but scared I'm making a panic decision/purchase.

Wanna - I think that sounds great! In terms of the busy turning, I don't drive at the mo, we have no car though that will change.

So I don't have the experience of driving with LO in the car. Are you worried about turning in/out of a busy road? I am not sure that can be avoided, sorry. Did you say this is North East London? Chances are, weight of traffic slows everyone's speed anyway.

Garden sounds brilliant. It all sounds a very good set up.

Sleep on it, you will probably wake up and know what to do.

Okay so in case this helps anyone
Sorry, long!
More likely to help flat shoppers

Today's viewings

1. a lovely flat in a not lovely block. sense of unease on sight. Met two obvious in dealers in stairwell.

2. the One We Couldn't Afford. Shouldn't have viewed. The chap at the EA who suggested we should view, and said the vendor would consider a cheeky offer, was not the same one who accompanied us. The cheeky offer idea is rubbish, I suspect the senior EA will get it relisted at at least £50k more. Loved it! No can have. ☹️

3. one on a nice quiet development, identical flats went for over asking price last month. Overvalued by a lot IMHO but clearly they can get it. Also, newly done up with a MASSIVE kitchen island bang in the middle of a small open plan kitchen/lounge. It's where a sofa would go. Very poor design.

4. ex housing association, busy road. Nicely kept, nice block. One of those private blocks with HA section attached. Hands down the "best value for price" we have seen. Lower end of budget too.

Kitchen/lounge same small open plan as these places always are, but minus the bonkers island! Also done in a compact sensible way.

Even with the busy road, which seems to be a feature everywhere, this seems a good option.

If they have a bad rep just because people are snobby, then an offer will go on Monday morning. I think a second viewing later in the week risks someone else nabbing it.

What do other posters think of ex HA? Presume freeholder is local council but will check.

@wannabeamummysobad if its any help our current block of flats sits on a busy road which we have to turn in to and its on a bend… i have 0 issues with it. If the house was perfect it wouldn’t put me off as long the sound wasn’t intrusive - those loud motorbikes are the worst offenders.

@DaisyNGO re HA If you are worried about resell then the look of the block and the internal space is more important than its past history imo. If its also freehold thats a massive bonus as more and more flats being built now are leasehold only!

We only saw the one house today. Really liked it and it had good vibes. Issues are 1. Its a probate 2. the second bedroom is much narrower than we realised so we l added a chimney breast removal to the renovations lol. Neither a dealbreaker for us.

It was only put on the market yesterday yet there was other viewers there too! Going to offer on Monday, unsure if we should go full whack asking price or offer under and go up to the asking? I dont want to risk losing it but also dont want to seem so eager and the sellers get greedy. Any advice?

Berry I would take the EA advice on offers. Have you got a sweetener e.g. ability to move quickly?

Re probate, I heard that's going quicker as there is apparently a new online process? I have no experience of it though.

This LA flat, I started a separate thread, but it's part of a modern block where a section was built for HA/LA. The kitchens have no integrated stuff, the bathrooms are lower spec, probably what we'd fit ourselves if we were doing it. Doesn't bother us, prefer not to pay for granite worktops etc. It is leasehold but that's fine for us. One of those 999 year ones so now down to 983 as that's about the age of building.

The EA said "if you are worried about low quality people living here" 🙄 we weren't - "then bear in mind a lot of people got into the posh bit by using help to buy so they are the same sorts of people".

We don't classify people like that ...made us think even more that perhaps there's only an issue for snobby types?

@DaisyNGO personally I'd go for the HA- this will likely be the higher footprint compared to a new build. Only thing to be conscious of is the maintenance fees. If you own and others rent you are at the mercy of their quotes in a way you wouldn't be if most of the flats were privately owned.

@BerryTiredMama honestly thought about this overnight and we are going to put a just asking price offer. I realised my issue wasn't with the flow of traffic (straight road 30mph) but me being anxious because i realised I've never driven alone in a car with a child so was a tad anxious. Now see that's silly as I can't avoid busy roads. You can't hear the road because there are lots of trees and it's a gorgeous house.

Wish me luck for tomorrow

wanna do you mean big costs for communal block jobs? I find that happens here. I will post on legal to see if there's a difference.

It's still a small flat but the comparable size non HA flats are going for about 40k more!

I'm glad you are offering, it will be fine. I know how sometimes things can throw you if you haven't encountered them. It sounds lovely!

Exactly @DaisyNGO. If some people rent directly from the HA they aren't liable for communal works (gardens, hallways,lifts, external door replacements etc) as such the HA and any private owners will be liable to pick up the costs.
My friend owns in a council owned block and that was one of her gripes- she doesn't feel the council are very commercial in gathering quotes. Ultimately she loves her flat and isn't planning on selling any time soon because the sqft, location etc outweigh these costs but just be aware.

Thanks wanna
The mgmt co in the current place are exactly the same

I posted on the legal board to ask if HA are obliged to serve section 20 but in reality, if you live in a block of flats, the chances are whoever is in charge will do things differently than you.

This seems more of a reason to pay a lower price. The same size not HA is about 50k more! This would bring us under budget. I am already dreaming of getting a cleaner!

@DaisyNGO fingers crossed for you!

thanks wanna

had lunch with friends
they also thought there's no reason not to buy ex LA/HA

not sure who the actual vendor is though, I will find out tomorrow of course!

Another week, here we go! Looking forward to seeing how everyone gets on this week - I'm loving seeing these updates.

We decided over the weekend to break up the chain - sell now and buy when we can but knowing it might not be until the spring when more places come onto the market. My Rightmove antics will remain the same, so who knows. We'll be renting from family in the meantime - an option we didn't know we had and has come out of the blue! Feeling a bit apprehensive tbh but I'm focusing on the benefits. We had a couple of viewers last week mention they were interested but wanted to move quickly... so let's hope this all works out

Mom totally understand that, if you can rent from family are less subject to the slings and arrows etc

Got another thread going re the HA/key workers/not sure place.

Combined with searching online, which suggests many lease restrictions, not sure what to do. I don't want to find out 4 months in that there are lease restrictions or excessive freedom for the council to alter the lease....or interpret the lease in a different way...

@Momniscient, well done for breaking the chain. I did the same!
Update from me, had three viewings over last few days. Really liked the first two properties but the location wasn't right for me, and also one had a small garden (the house was huge, probably too big for me). Had a third one of Saturday, and it was with the same EA for the house I pulled out on (three weeks before exchange). He didn't know who I was, but was so overly nice to me, complete contract for the times he called and was rude and aggressive. Anyway, didn't like the house at all. Anyway didn't like this third house anyway, ha ha.
Have another one at midday today, arranged a little last minute but am going to go along.
Guys, it is so tedious.....but we will get there

*contrast, not contract!

I'm going to end up bursting into tears at some point today

I bitterly regret not leaving London before.

The HA flat has already gone £20k above asking price and now more views are lined up for today. We're out.

It feels like we are going to sell for a lower price in London and buy at the high, possibly highest point, outside.

DP is convinced the exodus from London has stopped but I don't see any evidence of that.

Tbh I find normal daily life hard work so continuing to look just seems an exhausting waste of time. It might be easier to be hypnotised into not hating London and then we can just stay here!

@wannabeamummysobad " I'm now 🤰due spring 22 so this search has become even more heated. We initially wanted South Woodford but have expanded further east/north east. We do need good transportation ideally tube but will consider the overground."

You must be somewhere near us, we're in Walthamstow, selling a two bedroomed terraced and looking for three bed semi. We think that Walthamstow will be too expensive for us so we're looking at Highams Park/Chingford and Woodford.

@beguilingeyes practically neighbours!
Good luck with your search. The South Woodford/Woodford green market moves so quickly and every house has gone best and final eventually accepting £20/30k over asking (we were 3rd highest with a £970k bid for a property listed with guide price £925-£950k). We want a semi W/off street parking 4 bed/3bed with room to extend into the loft - most things exchanged at £960k or more. Personally I hate best and final.

We've now put an offer in on a property between Buckhurst Hill/Chingford so fingers crossed.

Honestly I just want my Saturday's back.

@beguilingeyes I should add I'm referring to period properties. Some of the ones without features especially on the nightingale estate do come up slightly cheaper.

Hope you’re ok @DaisyNGO
We’re just home from a viewing. It was beautiful but oh my, the road! Complete deal breaker. So it’s a no.
The search continues…..,

I've got 2 viewings booked for Friday at the moment, with a possible third one if they get back to me. Will be travelling for over 4 hours with husband and two children (I currently homeschool).

One of the viewings appears to be block bookings to generate a bidding war. Option 3 seems to be the most rural and has a decent primary school in easy walking distance (pavements! none where I'm currently!). Also juggling job agency introductions and keeping kids entertained as they are unlikely to be allowed into viewings . No opportunity to leave them behind as husband's family seem to think we're moving back to their home town, despite us mentioning that it would never happen... They definitely won't support this move, but we've always felt more settled where we're actually looking....