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?

Hello, my fellow Rightmove addicts. Definitely doing the "looking at the same properties yet again to see if maybe now it'd work" thing. I've been looking at RM for ages, but only "properly" looking in the last month or so... it has only just begun... Can I join the thread? 😬

As we're moving out the area (South East to Midlands) we're trying to only view places we're really considering offering on, so we've viewed a measly one so far (which was nice... but the kitchen would have really bothered me for a few reasons). This feels like just the tip of the iceberg.

@Momniscient

Hello, my fellow Rightmove addicts. Definitely doing the "looking at the same properties yet again to see if maybe now it'd work" thing. I've been looking at RM for ages, but only "properly" looking in the last month or so... it has only just begun... Can I join the thread? 😬

As we're moving out the area (South East to Midlands) we're trying to only view places we're really considering offering on, so we've viewed a measly one so far (which was nice... but the kitchen would have really bothered me for a few reasons). This feels like just the tip of the iceberg.

Want to hear the annoying phrase everyone keeps telling me? "The right one will come along. Just be patient."

But I hate that notion, so I'll tell you my own phrase. "House buying during a pandemic is hard and obnoxious and fiercely competitive for even the ugliest houses."

Welcome to the tribe 😉

Thanks @PessimisticOptimist that's a great phrase to bear in mind I'm hopeful for a house we're viewing this week - there aren't many photos so it's tricky to tell what it's really like but I'm quite excited anyway.

How's everyone else getting on?

Just waiting now. We've ordered a survey on the house we're buying. Searches ordered.
I'm hearing horror stories of searches taking months because of the backlog.
Our survey isn't too crucial because we don't need a mortgage, but just hoping that our buyers valuation comes close to the price.
Trying not to get too hopeful.

Well, there's a little bit coming to market but I am starting to be a bit more savvy by taking note of the floorplan and layout etc. Previously I was seeing every tent, hellhole which came to market. I dunno guys, it is slow and slim pickings. It is just making me nervous as I completed my sale end of July.

In town today I found a cheapish apartment for sale above Creams. So the market has improved.

@beguilingeyes fingers crossed!

@areyouhavingagiraffe are your buyers getting impatient? Is the chain quite complex already?

@languagelover96 ah, but have you tried broadening your search area!?

@areyouhavingagiraffe

Well, there's a little bit coming to market but I am starting to be a bit more savvy by taking note of the floorplan and layout etc. Previously I was seeing every tent, hellhole which came to market. I dunno guys, it is slow and slim pickings. It is just making me nervous as I completed my sale end of July.

I can just picture your previous convo with estate agents: "Hi, I'd like to arrange a viewing for the semi-detached, three bed hellhole on Wisteria Lane please." 😂

We want to go on the market but have delayed until the new year and part of the reason is that there is just nothing on the market we would view. Let's hope it picks up after Christmas!

@Momniscient. I completed my Sale already, decided to break through the chain, and break freeeeeeeeeeeeee

@Momniscient, so my Buyer is happy as he is living in my cosy little flat. I am living at my parents, at 43 years old, still searching for the house....

We still can find anything. It feels like the financial gap between the offer we accepted and our next move is getting bigger by the week and we're being priced out. There's been nothing added within our 5 mile radius for over 2 weeks. Really tempted to jack it all in but it seems silly to do that while we're under offer. Almost want our buyer to pull out so it's decision made!

I was looking at Rightmove yesterday..as you do...and prices seem to have jumped already since we started our process. Very average 2 beds going for £650,000

More coming on here, and things taking longer to sell/not selling if they're overpriced. Still nothing I want to view though. Prices seem to have stabilised a bit, it seems the heat has gone out of the market a bit. Lots being readvertised after sales fell through too.

Ah red pickle I sympathise with you. We went to view our prospective purchase again for the third time - it’s a 6 hour round trip - and all I could think of were the things that were wrong with it and all the work we would need to do to put it right ! Plus the traffic noise ( in the distance down the valley ...) I didn’t see the beautiful view, the lovely community and facilities close by , access to the railway station and being 20 minutes from family instead of the 6 hour round trip ..... My DH is really fed up because he is happy with it and I am in such a dither I also wish our (cash buyers no chain) buyers would pull out so I don’t have to decide ! If I pull then where are we ? Taken 6 months to get to this point and this place is chain free too. Everything else has been sold within a fortnight - like you all I keep interrogating RM to find the ‘one that got away’ and it didn’t.........But what if I’m not happy ? What does that even mean anymore ? Has anyone else lost the power to even really know what they think about houses anymore ?😂😂 why oh why did Rishi Sunak have to start a feeding frenzy just when we wanted to move .... why was there a pandemic and why does everyone meant to move when we do . ITS NOT FAIR 🤦‍♀️🤷😂😂

@marymay62

Ah red pickle I sympathise with you. We went to view our prospective purchase again for the third time - it’s a 6 hour round trip - and all I could think of were the things that were wrong with it and all the work we would need to do to put it right ! Plus the traffic noise ( in the distance down the valley ...) I didn’t see the beautiful view, the lovely community and facilities close by , access to the railway station and being 20 minutes from family instead of the 6 hour round trip ..... My DH is really fed up because he is happy with it and I am in such a dither I also wish our (cash buyers no chain) buyers would pull out so I don’t have to decide ! If I pull then where are we ? Taken 6 months to get to this point and this place is chain free too. Everything else has been sold within a fortnight - like you all I keep interrogating RM to find the ‘one that got away’ and it didn’t.........But what if I’m not happy ? What does that even mean anymore ? Has anyone else lost the power to even really know what they think about houses anymore ?😂😂 why oh why did Rishi Sunak have to start a feeding frenzy just when we wanted to move .... why was there a pandemic and why does everyone meant to move when we do . ITS NOT FAIR 🤦‍♀️🤷😂😂

Oh my dear @marymay62, I totally understand the house freakout.

Want to know what I think? You need a good nap. Seriously. I've been battling depression and anxiety for several years now, and the quickest cure for cyclical freakout is a good nap. Turn you phone off, put on white noise if you need it, and check out from the world for two hours. I promise things won't fall apart.

Then when you wake up, think about all the reasons you wanted to move in the first place. And picture yourself a little while from now. Settled in your lovely new home, Sunday dinners with the extended family, opening the curtains to the gorgeous view, and snuggling on the couch with your DH - pinching yourselves that you snagged such a beautiful place.

No house is perfect. No house will make you happy. But your happiness can be seriously boosted by a house that ticks most of your boxes, and gives you the chance to start your next chapter.

There's a reason you wanted to move. Forget Rishi, forget the pandemic, forget RM. You can't control any of those things. But you can control your own emotions and stress. You've done an incredible job getting to this point. All the research and road trips have totally paid off. Give yourself massive credit for being an absolute legend.

Now, dear internet friend, close the curtains, turn your phone off, and have a nap. You deserve it.

@areyouhavingagiraffe oooh that's easier in some ways I guess. I can understand the stress living with parents again. We're considering it to make chains easier... I'm not convinced it's a good idea... unless my mum wants a new patio...

Dear PessimisticOptimist
Thankyou. Those are precious words - and great advice ! I don’t nap very well but a walk would be my way of escaping so I”ll do that! And breathe and smile - I keep forgetting to do that 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

@PessimisticOptimist that's beautiful.

@marymay62 I second OP about the nap. Do you remember why you liked the house in the first place - can you write up a pros list as well as a cons list and be sure it balances out?

I don't know the house or whether there's genuinely something that will bother you, but it struck me that one of your reasons to not pull out is how long it's taken to get to where you are currently. I'm not sure that's a good reason to stick if you're truly questioning this house. Thinking of it in another way, these six months have already gone and you can't change decisions you made then. Now that time has passed and you've seen the house more, it's natural for doubts to set in and for the inevitable compromises to shine more brightly. Equally, perhaps in those six months you have more information about the house than you did then and it might be worth starting again. You can only make decisions on the information you have at the time, and when time teaches you, you need to listen. In five or ten years time when you're living in that house (and note, how did you feel reading that - living there in ten years time...) will you think "I'm glad we stuck with it, how lovely is this being closer to family and all these other things, all this work done has made a beautiful house" or will you think "why was I so worried about pulling out? It's a big decision and I should have listened to my gut". Only you can balance it out. Just make sure, if you can, whatever your reasons are for moving it's for you and your family and for all the good things. Doing something because you're worried other people will be upset if you don't isn't a healthy mentality. Use hindsight instead, and do now what you'll wish you'd done ten years on. If that makes sense...

Also take a nap. Love naps.

Momniscient - Thankyou too. I have a tendency to just look or think about negatives and let them overwhelm me, so I find it hard to be certain that my fears are real. I did not like the house we are currently in for lots of reasons when we first moved but I adore it now and tolerate the annoyances ! Mostly.... We’re moving for personal reasons to be nearer family and time is not on my side to wait years for the ‘perfect’ place as some people do.
Thankyou for kind thoughts, words, and great advice x

We’re about to put our house on the market and will be cash buyers. I am getting an inheritance soon so will probably have £350k to spend. Reading this thread is making me very nervous and I wonder whether we should wait until the New Year?
We already have someone interested in our house, haven’t had it valued etc yet.
Any advice?

@PessimisticOptimist - wise words I think - no amount of money buys you the perfect house - write a list of things you want in order of priority and then tick them off - you probably won't be able to tick all - just know the compromises.

I read a story once that a russian billionaire wanted a house & offered approx 4 x times what the house was worth ( not on market ) . The owner said - I'm Ok thanks I will keep living here . ( I paraphrase ) but in my opinion there are always compromises - just need to be the ones you are prepared to make . All the money in the world does not necessarily get you exactly what you want.

Also it is very common to get a bit nervy and anxious when moving house. And wonder whether you have made the right decision , and move in and think "have I done the right thing " If you have chosen the house for sensible decisions - it will probably work. I bought the house of my dreams ( it was a terraced house so let us not go over the top ) and worried for weeks. I cried when we left it 10 years later.

I wish all well who are going through this - it is stressful to all

I thought I'd pop back on and say hello, and I'm still searching!

I don't know about everyone else, but the market seems to be stabilising a little bit. Finally! Saying that, there's still SFA that we'd actually want to offer on!

We did offer £440k (asking price of £425k) on a lovely 3 bed bungalow. The agent wanted us to up our offer, so we went back to a second viewing and ended up withdrawing our offer. The drive/ parking is just too small and there's no land to be able to change it.

Looked at a do-er upper last night, and that had the same drive issue.

So there's not much happening here!

How's it looking, everyone? We're ever so slowly progressing with a purchase, but I'm not 100% dedicated to it yet (especially because the chain isn't complete yet at the top). I still check RM in case something better comes along - but it's been 6 weeks and I haven't seen a thing. Everything seems like a tiny starter flat or a 6 bed mansion on 3 acres.

How is your hunt coming along?

I'm relocating semi rurally and I phoned the agent to ask if there was space for a dining table and wardrobes in one I could see online. Apparently not. It does have a brand new bathroom though - perhaps we could eat dinner off the loo?

My list is:
within 1 mile of the train station
garden that catches the sun
3 bedrooms
Bedrooms have space for wardrobes
Dining room has space for a dining table

Too much to ask?