Thread 3: "Anyone not being picky - and STILL can't find anything?"

[RidingMyBike]

Thread 3 ready to go.
Link to thread 2:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/property/4450168-Thread-2-Anyone-not-being-picky-and-STILL-cant-find-anything?pg=1

Completed! Exchange week after next. Turned out I could just cross out and initial the misspelling 👍🏼

This is for a 4bed in West Yorkshire with offer accepted mid-Jan. Truly feel like we absolutely snuck in before something happened as there are 0 alike properties on RM and haven’t been for months. Gives me a frisson that it could still go wrong but have started packing 😵‍💫

Surely it's the other way around?? You don't complete before you've exchanged contracts!

Great news though, congratulations!

Just been to see another house. The particulars omitted to mention the right of way running across the terrace. Parking is almost impossible nearby. A beautiful house, but not for me.

It absolutely is, yes 🫣 I keep getting it mixed up 🤪

Just wondering how everyone is finding things?

I still think I'm overpaying for mine but can't get in to do a 2nd viewing / get a survey. I've advised my solicitor to not proceed until I've done that. EA being an arse and trying to blame me for the delays but I'm not proceeding with an old house until I can get a survey done. Wondering what the vendor has to hide.

@TwinklingFairyLights surely they're expecting you to do a survey? It would be madness to buy a house without one! That will at least give you a valuation and an idea whether the price is realistic.

We were meant to exchange this week but it's now been postponed until after half term. It's been a bit of a stressful week!

@RidingMyBike

Everyone I've spoken to has said they wouldn't buy without a survey. I'm also concerned that they won't let me in to do a 2nd viewing. I'm actively looking for other things. Hopefully there is a post jubilee surge of houses coming in the market.

I had a meh viewing on Weds and am seeing a bungalow with potential tomorrow. They want £275k for it. Dream on: the last one that sold in the close went for £175k in 2018 and even Zoopla's usually-pie-in-the-sky estimate is under the actual asking price 🙄 Anyway, we'll see.

I wouldn't buy without having a survey done either Twinkling, especially not for an older house.

I'd also be thinking along the same lines as you i.e. what are they trying to hide?!?

We are now 2.5 weeks past the mortgage valuation with no decision. Ugh

Have they at least told you how much the valuation has come in at Paddington? So you know whether it is more or less than the agreed price?

Nope! Nothing at all except generic message the valuation was received the next day, 2.5 weeks ago

That is odd Paddington. I'm applying directly to my lender (Santander) as I am porting my old mortgage across, so I ring them up about my application all the time. I called them to ask about the valuation the day after it had been performed each time, and they told me the figure over the phone.

I'd be interested to know what your lender or broker say about it when you call them to ask, as 2.5 weeks is far too long for anyone not to have updated you.

We put an offer in on the house in the area we were originally hesitant about. So far crickets from the vendor, even though (after we chased)he promised a final decision by yesterday morning. So we are assuming he's gone with someone else. Continuing to view, but feeling like nothing decent will turn up- even with us making significant compromises.

@TwinklingFairyLights - you are absolutely right to stand your ground. They should feck right off saying they won't allow a survey. Definitely got something to hide.

A second viewing isn't unreasonable either. So far we have let our buyers have a second and third viewing (plus a survey) - it's a faff, but we allowed it. They have requested a fourth. We've said we I'll consider it, but not for now - with two small kids, getting the place "viewing" ready is work I don't have time for right now. I think two viewings should be possible as standard. After that, up to the parties to agree it or not. Sounds like your sellers are either hiding something or they don't actually want to sell and want you to pull out

its via a broker who has said the valuation is back and under review, that’s all he can see on the portal

The broker should be working harder for you Paddington. I'd tell them to ring the bank and ask, to ease your mind. There will be a contact number for the lender, and although the broker may have to wait on the line for a while, they should be able to speak to a real person to confirm the valuation figure.

Yes I’ve emailed today and asked him to chase it up on Monday 👍

Wonderful, I hope you hear good news on Monday Paddington!

@TwinklingFairyLights - there’s definitely something up wrt not allowing you access and survey.

I can’t think of a single property purchasing situation where purchasers would buy without a survey, unless it is at auction.

I would make it VERY plain to the EA that you will continue to actively look in the area for alternative houses, and that you look forward to hearing back from them in due course once they’ve knocked some sense into their clients.

After nearly a year of searching, I’m finding myself feeling quite bullish towards EAs. The market is flattening out here, and they need to start to work a bit harder.

Valuation has been agreed, 3 weeks later! bank has asked for some more info but hopefully we are not far off getting the offer now

So, went to view a house yesterday. On first appearance, much nicer than the estate agent pics. But on entering the first bedroom I saw 2 swastikas were painted onto the wall!

I was horrified and immediately said I was ending the viewing - couldn't get out of there fast enough. Agent said she had not even noticed them before...

Half an hour later, agent calls to say that it's an Indian family that lives there and that it means something very different (pre-dating Hitler) and that no offence was caused.

I've since done my research into the original swastika, but still feel totally )and I guess now unreasonably in light of what I know understand) creeped out. So not going to go back to look at the rest of the place. The property search continues.

Hopefully, other viewers at least get a heads up about the markings on the wall...

What's everyone's thoughts on a 10 year fixed rate mortgage?

I'm buying by myself and hoping it will be my forever home. Plan to stay there until retirement.

It feels like nothing much has happened for ages but lenders have agreed and survey was done today. Don't have the report yet but have spoken with the surveyor and no big surprises. However the boiler hasn't been serviced for 10 years and neither have the electrics. And although electrics are old they're not new either. Is it reasonable to ask that they have the boiler serviced? Or is it just something we need to do later and hope for the best?
TwinklingFairyLights I don't know much about mortgages but I suspect over the next ten years interest rates aren't going to go much lower than they are now, but will go up in the short term. We've fixed for 5 but may have gone for ten if it was our forever home.

How long have lenders valuations taken to come back recently? My mortgage app has gone in today, lender will be doing a valuation.

Nationwide (via broker) took 3 weeks to provide a valuation decision. Now we are waiting to hear if they are agreeing the mortgage. MIP was agreed weeks ago with no issue so fingers crossed but it feels very slow