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?

It's just so rubbish out there! Asking prices seem to be rising week on week, not even by a small amount. And because supply is so low, there will be someone out there who will probably offer it.

We broke the chain and moved in to rented. We want to relocate to a new area (done plenty of research, know the area fairly well, but it's hours away, so can't go to viewings without a fair bit of notice).

Planning a few days in the area next month- nothing like checking out houses when it';s gloomy, grey and wet! Best time to do it really as if we still love somewhere when it's not all sunny and pretty, we'll have more of an idea what we're buying ourselves into....

But the reality is, house prices are still rising for the type of property we'd like. We've readjusted our expectations considerably and yet, there's still so little to view. Probably because potential house vendors have looked at the market and gone "No thanks, nothing we feel comfortable paying for on the market, let's stay put."

I'm told in many areas house prices are at least levelling out. But the rural/ semi-rural stuff that isn't tiny seems to be flying out of the door. Transactions also seem to be taking longer because it takes longer for chains to form and actually get over the line. And all the time we haven't found anywhere to move to, the mortgage rates will start to creep up- only a little, but it just makes everything that little bit harder.....

I could pay cash for the one without a dining space / wardrobe space. I think I'm going to have to get a mortgage for what I would like.

I'm not going to compromise on wardrobes and a dining table. I'd be miserable eating off my lap and not being able to find any clothes.

This will be a forever house, so willing to wait. I don't think anything on my list is unreasonable. I would compromise on being within a mile of the train station but wardrobes, dining space and garden should be fairly standard. It's not like I'm asking for stained glass windows or something .

All sounds reasonable to me! Just wish they'd make houses with slightly bigger rooms. A dining room/ dining kitchen needs to be able to hold at least a four seater table and chairs combination, possibly a cupboard to keep dining related items in. Otherwise, kitchens need to be much bigger. And don't get me started on a utility area/ room.

Guess it's because we're buying from housing stock that spans up to five centuries? Expectations and usage have changed dramatically. And with many people now insisting on extra rooms (might WFH/ craft room/ playroom/ spare room for visitors)that they may or may not realistically ever use...

Were beds much smaller in times gone by/ have many Victorian/later homes been 'improved' to have extra bedrooms? When looking for our rental we were shown rooms that weren't even long/wide enough for a standard single bed! (But they weren't labelled nurseries/ dressing rooms?). Many wouldn't hold a bed, a single wardrobe and a small chest of drawers. Radiators were often in the most stupid places so just basic furniture wouldn't be able to fit.

Were beds much smaller in times gone by/ have many Victorian/later homes been 'improved' to have extra bedrooms? When looking for our rental we were shown rooms that weren't even long/wide enough for a standard single bed! (But they weren't labelled nurseries/ dressing rooms?). Many wouldn't hold a bed, a single wardrobe and a small chest of drawers. Radiators were often in the most stupid places so just basic furniture wouldn't be able to fit.

I've noticed this. The estate agent answer is to buy a child size bed. Ok but children grow, what do you do then 😂

our bungalow goes on the market next week but we are unsure of doing so because there's just nothing out there that's right for us, any advice? should we still put it on and hope something comes along or should we wait until we see something suitable

If you want/need to move, put it on. If you're just testing the water don't bother. So long as you explain your situation to any potential buyers, they should understand. It means they can advise their solicitor to hold back on work until you've actually found something, thus saving themselves a big bill for unnecessary work if you can't find anything and then pull out....

When you find something, do the same- make sure your vendors have found something already/ advise you won't get the conveyancing going in earnest until the chain is formed. Lots of solicitors are advising this now.

@Siouxtse1

If you want/need to move, put it on. If you're just testing the water don't bother. So long as you explain your situation to any potential buyers, they should understand. It means they can advise their solicitor to hold back on work until you've actually found something, thus saving themselves a big bill for unnecessary work if you can't find anything and then pull out....

When you find something, do the same- make sure your vendors have found something already/ advise you won't get the conveyancing going in earnest until the chain is formed. Lots of solicitors are advising this now.

we really need to move we are 100% genuine and we are ready, thank you for the advice i appreciate it i will take it on board and use it Thank You

I'm struggling to find something at the moment. We're looking to upsize from a 3 bed (well 2 1/2 bed) end of terrace. Our criteria is minimum of 3 double bedrooms, off road parking, a utility and nice kitchen. At the moment most of the houses on the markets are new builds. Even the large 4 bed houses have tiny kitchens with very limited counter space for cooking. Parking also seems to be a problem. Most have a single width driveway where one car has to be parked in front of the other and nowhere nearby for visitors to park. We can't be the only people who want a kitchen we can cook in, can we?

I'm probably spoiled because we did a kitchen extension in our current house. Although I love it, I can't face the thought of doing it again. It was noisy, expensive, dirty and so so stressful.

@MilduraS

I'm struggling to find something at the moment. We're looking to upsize from a 3 bed (well 2 1/2 bed) end of terrace. Our criteria is minimum of 3 double bedrooms, off road parking, a utility and nice kitchen. At the moment most of the houses on the markets are new builds. Even the large 4 bed houses have tiny kitchens with very limited counter space for cooking. Parking also seems to be a problem. Most have a single width driveway where one car has to be parked in front of the other and nowhere nearby for visitors to park. We can't be the only people who want a kitchen we can cook in, can we?

I'm probably spoiled because we did a kitchen extension in our current house. Although I love it, I can't face the thought of doing it again. It was noisy, expensive, dirty and so so stressful.

A kitchen I can cook is in on my list too. What else are kitchens supposed to be for? (Asking the builders / developers, not you 😃, as some new build kitchens seem to be for decorative purposes).

@MilduraS

I'm struggling to find something at the moment. We're looking to upsize from a 3 bed (well 2 1/2 bed) end of terrace. Our criteria is minimum of 3 double bedrooms, off road parking, a utility and nice kitchen. At the moment most of the houses on the markets are new builds. Even the large 4 bed houses have tiny kitchens with very limited counter space for cooking. Parking also seems to be a problem. Most have a single width driveway where one car has to be parked in front of the other and nowhere nearby for visitors to park. We can't be the only people who want a kitchen we can cook in, can we?

I'm probably spoiled because we did a kitchen extension in our current house. Although I love it, I can't face the thought of doing it again. It was noisy, expensive, dirty and so so stressful.

we have completely renovated but because of circumstances we are wanting to move, most of the properties near us need lots of work it's disheartening when we see whats on offer all we want is a house or bungalow with a good bathroom and kitchen we can do the rest hoping something will come up we will just have to be patient but it's disheartening

Bugger all happening here. My mortgage offer expires end of the month. Luckily I added the fees (£999( to the mortgage so I am not out of pocket; this was advised by my Broker who suggested this in case things fell apart. Have appt with broker soon to get a DIP so I can provide this to EA as evidence, along with proceeds of my Sale.

But unfortunately not much on the market, and nothing I want to get out of bed for....

@areyouhavingagiraffe

Bugger all happening here. My mortgage offer expires end of the month. Luckily I added the fees (£999( to the mortgage so I am not out of pocket; this was advised by my Broker who suggested this in case things fell apart. Have appt with broker soon to get a DIP so I can provide this to EA as evidence, along with proceeds of my Sale.

But unfortunately not much on the market, and nothing I want to get out of bed for....

it is so frustrating i look everyday and see the same properties that are not selling, hopefully things will pick up soon we just need that one perfect property to come on but make sure we get in there first i will keep looking everyday and be disappointed everyday probably

A kitchen I can cook is in on my list too. What else are kitchens supposed to be for? (Asking the builders / developers, not you 😃, as some new build kitchens seem to be for decorative purposes).

Decorative purposes is exactly how it feels! Once you've put down a kettle and toaster you're left with a few square feet of space. It's hard to swallow when you're looking at adding another £125k to the mortgage 😬

I did expand our search area and found a stunning old property with high ceilings and a country kitchen. The trade off being it's grade 2 listed and only has a courtyard garden. I'm obsessed with growing flowers for the house so it doesn't work 😭

@MilduraS

I'm struggling to find something at the moment. We're looking to upsize from a 3 bed (well 2 1/2 bed) end of terrace. Our criteria is minimum of 3 double bedrooms, off road parking, a utility and nice kitchen. At the moment most of the houses on the markets are new builds. Even the large 4 bed houses have tiny kitchens with very limited counter space for cooking. Parking also seems to be a problem. Most have a single width driveway where one car has to be parked in front of the other and nowhere nearby for visitors to park. We can't be the only people who want a kitchen we can cook in, can we?

I'm probably spoiled because we did a kitchen extension in our current house. Although I love it, I can't face the thought of doing it again. It was noisy, expensive, dirty and so so stressful.

We have some of the worst, most poky new-build houses in Europe. The problem is out governments haven't regulated building as well as other countries have.

This thread makes me feel like I'm not the only one!
Seen over 20 houses.
Offered on 5 of them - all over asking and all rejected due to buyers getting higher offers.

It's nuts.

@onanadventure

This thread makes me feel like I'm not the only one! Seen over 20 houses. Offered on 5 of them - all over asking and all rejected due to buyers getting higher offers.

It's nuts.

we can't even see any that are worth viewing! it's crazy

Yes we've literally had a handful of houses appearing on RM in the last 4 weeks. Sooo frustrating. And the moment something good appears its like sharks circling at the first drop of blood..

We've only in the end found somewhere by signing up with the biggest agent in town and getting access to their off the market list.

Not been without its wobbles though.. and we're still feeling a little unsure that we havent become too desparate to make the right choices!

I've noticed a few houses are being reduced in the city we're about to move to, which is the first time since I signed up for the alerts in June! Maybe things are beginning to change?

We've had no interest in our house for ten days or so so will also be reducing.

@RidingMyBike

I've noticed a few houses are being reduced in the city we're about to move to, which is the first time since I signed up for the alerts in June! Maybe things are beginning to change?

We've had no interest in our house for ten days or so so will also be reducing.

same here, houses getting reduced but none what we want i hope things are changing it's so frustrating

I'm having a "like buses" moment. We've been trying to get a viewing on a house for a couple of weeks now (vendors being a bit restrictive on viewing times so we've been waiting for a weekend slot) and today I had a call from the EA to say we can view tomorrow, AND there's another house come on the market a couple of roads over (not on RM yet)!

So I'm hopeful that maybe things are picking up a little more reasonably? Low-key excited for tomorrow's viewing. As it's our second ever I'm trying not to a) get caught up in "A viewing! Finally", and 2) focus on the negatives and put myself off! Grr...

good luck for your viewings our goes on the market in two weeks we have a property in a popular location where houses don't come on the market all that often but we won't be picky with viewings as long as masks are worn just hope we can find something

Still nothing here, a few houses have come on in my favoured locations but they're either too small or too big or on a busy road (I want cats). Reductions starting to happen and more properties taking a while to sell.

I think I'm competing with families which makes life harder - I'm after:

Three bedrooms (two if there's potential to extend or it's a massive garden)
Dining kitchen or potential to knock through
Decent size garden
Easy walking distance to town centre
Quiet road

Nice to haves:
Some sort of rear access for gardening stuff
Period property
Driveway
Doer-upper
Garden big enough for an office (I WFH).

@Momniscient, how did it go?
Nothing here. Had a few viewings, but nothing I want to offer on. I feel like things are taking a little longer to sell...and more properties being reduced. Have a viewing for a place on Saturday, looks okay, not sure about location. But am going along anyway. Jokes.

lots of properties been put on over the weekend but look like the ones that are sitting on the market not selling so nothing interesting i'm afraid yet again, detached properties don't seem to come on all that often

There’s so little on at the moment. Some have okay prices but others are over inflated and those not selling have something slightly odd - need work, one bedroom has to be walked through to get to another bedroom, front garden only etc. We’ve decided to stay here and do this one up.