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?

@DaisyNGO I only just saw this. I feel so bad for you- that is such a pain. The current owners are money grabbing so will hopefully be for the best but frustrating none the less.
Do you have an idea of what properties in your preferred area are actually selling for? It might be that people are offering too much (more than the property is worth) then being turned down for mortgages (a house we wanted was listed at £950k, SSTC £1.1m but the person couldn't get a mortgage at that amount so had to use cash to cover the shortfall. It came back on to the market and sold for £960k but we dismissed it because of knotweed)...
I say all this to say it's not over till it's over. If you like it put the offer that you can afford. Fingers crossed for you

wanna

Thank you.

I'm going to need to rethink. I'm the one who wants to leave london. Tbh I struggle with normal daily life and have a couple of health conditions, so it's very hard for me to keep trekking about to view. I swear my bones still ache from walking around in the cold most of Saturday morning.

There's more options if I can face an earlier return to work than we planned post DC.

Or there's an option to stay here and try to get over how much I hate the area...DP still thinks the decline might reverse but without getting political, I can't see that happening.

We are dealing with a very different price point than most posters here, so competing with investors and probably higher numbers of people?

I don't think the HA flat owner is being greedy at all, why shouldn't they take the highest offer? It might well be a cash offer, especially at this end of the market.

I'm going to stop moaning at you all now, thank you so much for listening. I will probably unbookmark the thread - I need to stop thinking about it for a couple of days.

@DaisyNGO it sounds like the HA place going might be a blessing in disguise if I’m honest – though I stand in solidarity with you that it’s frustrating to feel like there’s progress and it gets whipped away from under your feet!

I think there’s always some exodus from London, isn’t there? Maybe your DP just means the increase, and it’s back to “normal” levels? I know what you mean about comparable prices, though.

@DaisyNGO I'm sorry if I made you feel bad it wasn't my intention. I am keeping everything crossed that you find the new place you want.

So by my reckoning so far it looks like: @areyouhavingagiraffe and @Siouxtse1 have viewings lined up, @wannabeamummysobad has put in an offer and @BerryTiredMama did you offer on your weekend viewing?

We had some viewings on our place over the weekend, and I was nearly certain one set would put in an offer but I just took a call from the EA and they've offerred somewhere else (but "really liked the house and it was in a great area, so they might come back" ?!). Channelling @RidingMyBike advice about how viewers have to say something to the EA about why they don’t want to put an offer in.

Yep, I do think this is the case. Our EA seems quite hot on chasing up by phone or email what the people viewing thought, and clearly they feel they've got to say something!
It's frustrating though - we got feedback this morning from one of two viewings done on Sat. Again, garden and downstairs too small so nothing we can actually do about that. Ironically the garden is a good size for the location, but clearly people can get something bigger further out.
I'm amused about the downstairs too small comments as they all invariably like upstairs which is generally described as big and clearly one sits on top of the other!

We're now renting in our new location and I'm starting to explore potential areas and get a feel for what prices are doing when we can eventually buy here.

@DaisyNGO i really feel for you and completely understand. Honestly its for the best as you were confused about it. Something better is out there. I really like to believe fate will be kind to all of us suffering at the hands of this killer market.

Thanks for asking @Momniscient we are in absolute shock and disbelief. I think we had luck completely on our side with this one but our offer got accepted!!! The property came on the market Friday and i begged the agent for a next day viewing. Offered today and accepted same day!! I reckon if it had been marketed on a monday we wouldn’t have had a chance. Plus we found out the probate was already granted so a huge bonus.

We’ve been searching since april and this is just unbelievable. Several times ive thought about giving up. Its not set in and until we get the keys i can’t relax lol but we actually did it?!?! Ive felt so emotional today because the reason we’re moving is very personal (loss in the family) and this year is finally ending on a happier note. I really wish you all the best of luck and will keep checking the thread in hope to hear good news!

Wow @BerryTiredMama that's such great news to start the day on! I hope it keeps going swimmingly. Really gives me hope for our own search which comparatively has only just begun.

@DaisyNGO as if a house being too big is a problem... ha! I guess most places the downstairs is larger than upstairs so in comparison with those your well-balanced house doesn't stack up how they want it to? How bizarre. How does it feel to rent in the right place?

@Momniscient our offer was accepted! Such a weight off the mind (kinda). Now the real work begins....
Our broker says a pre Xmas completion is unlikely but if we could complete by mid/late Jan-22 I'd be ecstatic

Exciting news @wannabeamummysobad ! Wow. Maybe this thread is good luck..? I can but hope...

Congratulations @wannabeamummysobad! Great news! 💗

Thanks @Momniscient and @MummyJ12 !
I'm absolutely buzzing- DH is most excited about painting the nursery.
Time to get my baby and Pinterest boards up and running

@wannabeamummysobad, amazing news, congrats!
I had another viewing yesterday, lovely grand house from outside, great location. Probate, needs so so so much work inside, however the big negative for me was the size of the garden was quite small. Property needs extension, and following an extension, the garden would be even smaller. Beautiful high ceilings though! Anyway, no go for me.

@Momniscient

Wow *@BerryTiredMama* that's such great news to start the day on! I hope it keeps going swimmingly. Really gives me hope for our own search which comparatively has only just begun.

@DaisyNGO as if a house being too big is a problem... ha! I guess most places the downstairs is larger than upstairs so in comparison with those your well-balanced house doesn't stack up how they want it to? How bizarre. How does it feel to rent in the right place?

Mom I think you've confused me with another poster

We're the tiny council flat people, I can only dream of the big house!

Congrats wanna 🥂💫

Woops, sorry @DaisyNGO I did mean to tag @RidingMyBike with the comments from viewers!

Quite a positive conversation with an agent today. Demand seems to be abating slightly. Supply is still low but they are expecting more to come on in the new year to spring. This is in Leeds.

@FanGirlX, that will be why they are reaching out to me now....rather than ignoring calls, ha ha

[quote areyouhavingagiraffe]@FanGirlX, that will be why they are reaching out to me now....rather than ignoring calls, ha ha[/quote]
I'll wait to see it with my own eyes. The last 6-9 months has been like some kind of mania.

Had a terrible day, found out the vendor has accepted our offer but they refuse to take it off the market for at least 14 days and only until our mortgage survey is booked. They're doing it in the hopes to get more money - estate agent says. We offered 5k under asking so looking likely we will get gazumped. I could cry!!

@BerryTiredMama that is standard right now- just book your survey.
DH and I did that when selling our flats . Not to try and get more money but instead to eliminate time wasting/ make sure we didn't lose out if the buyer changed their mind.

The house we've offered on has done the same.

All is not lost.

Anyone been outbid by a Chinese investor? One EA told me that's what's been happening in our area. Rush to get money out of China. They're using investors to target safe areas of the U.K. and that's not just London anymore, it's the popular suburbs of major cities too.

@FanGirlX

Anyone been outbid by a Chinese investor? One EA told me that's what's been happening in our area. Rush to get money out of China. They're using investors to target safe areas of the U.K. and that's not just London anymore, it's the popular suburbs of major cities too.

I understand that a lot of new build blocks of flats in northern city centres were built with Chinese investors in mind. However the cladding scandal has put them off and they are now targeting family houses in safe suburbs.

@wannabeamummysobad i find it unfair to allow further viewings whilst asking for financial commitment via booking a mortgage survey. Nothing is protecting us if we book and pay and someone decides to offer 10k more. Its disingenuous. If it were 2/3 weeks after offer acceptance and buyers weren’t making moves its different. Anyway we have no control!

@BerryTiredMama I didn't realise they specifically said mortgage survey. We said and have been asked for any survey so booked in a building survey to take place ASAP. Showed the EA and the property came off the market.

Double check exactly what they've asked for. Yes I agree asking for a final commitment is fustrating however so is taking your property off the market for 2/3 weeks while your buyer faffs around (not saying you would) then backs out anyway. The market is crazy right now and everyone wants assurances.

If they just want anything financial book a homebuyers/building survey then tell them they need to take it off. Good luck x

@BerryTiredMama have you considered home buyers insurance if you're worried about losing it?