Why is finding a property such an infuriating process?

[biberal1]

Why is buying a property in the UK so bloody hard?

Anytime I see something in my price range, I am let down by one or more of the following:

short lease
auction
cash buyers only
right next to a pub
not mortgageable
tenant in situ, investors only
priced significantly above and already absurd market value
commutable, but exorbitant train fares

actually find a decent property
1hour commute to work, affordable train
enough room
estate agent tells me it's already got multiple offers and viewings despite only being listed yesterday
she also strongly denies its listed above market value, despite that i literally have the figure in front of me
stongly suspect she is lying seeing as it has a short leasehold and is listed above market value

Estate agents are a nightmare. They are beyond infuriating and seem to delight in talking over me/rambling on at me, referring to me as 'yourself' and themselves as 'myself' (so effing weird, do NOT understand this) when I'm trying to arrange a viewing.

The search is taking all the energy out of me.

It’s awful isn’t it? Our worst experience was a couple of years ago when looking around a house – originally a 3-bed with a converted loft to make it a 4-bed, perfect. Loved the house. Got to the loft room, there’s a man sitting on the bed. “He lives here and tenancy comes with the house.” WTF.

I relate and I’m fed up too. I feel like the quality of houses and flats is pretty naff too? All poorly looked after and maintained

But with premium prices I should add

I find it infuriating but not gif the reasons you list. Market price is market price and you need to lower your criteria as what you want seems out if your budget.
It's infuriating because: offers are not binding, there is no timescale, there is no penalty for pulling out, the search process is inadequate, stamp duty is prohibitive and agents can only show you what is on their books, not everything on the market.

she also strongly denies its listed above market value, despite that i literally have the figure in front of me

Market value is what someone is willing to pay for it. What figure do you have in front of you?

Small island, overcrowded, everyone seeing houses as investment and growth in value not a home, too much disposable income etc.

I accepted a long time ago that very few houses in the UK are well maintained. New houses in the UK are appalling build quality. Older houses have had mad DIYers who can't be bothered to do things properly, working on them for years.

I bought my house at a discount after it had been on the market for 18 months. The electrics were unsafe, a DIY lean-to needed demolishing, walls were damp, the roof was on its last legs, the exterior doors weren't secure, the windows were single glazed and the gas fire was condemned immediately. Ten years down the line, our home is warm, safe, dry and complies with building regs. It's taken a while.

People buy houses without the faintest idea how to maintain them, and then wonder why things go wrong.