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

Ours took just over a week with NatWest, they never actually gave us a valuation but were happy to lend what we'd asked for, with a 20% deposit.

Two more viewings booked for next week but I don't feel particularly excited about either of them, mainly because I expect both to go to best and final offers (one is offers over already). I'm hoping there might be a flurry after half term.

Might do a ring-around of agents tomorrow because so many of them seem to be shite at updating their listings on RM and their own websites so I have no idea what is still for sale and what has sold.

I've just paid a £100 valuation fee, so they'd better give me a valuation.

@dubyalass I wonder about the failure to update properties, there was one with Strike and it sold pretty quick, it took them four weeks to update, when you rang up they tried to talk up another property that wasn't budging....

I viewed a seemingly promising property this week, oh what a let down! First off the the en bloc garage was a bit of an eye sore with many of the garages broken down, and then the adjoining neighbours gate announced Beware of the Dogs 🙄

The brick work of the house was in a poor state, had obviously not been re pointed for years, and some brick work clearly needed replacing.. On entering the property is was superficially nice, but I spotted signs of penetrating damp and dodgy electrics in the bathroom, which also needed updating

I asked the EA if I could view the garage, she didn't know which one it was (?), the office did call me later and informed me later that if was broken down and the current vendors don't use it.....

The thing that has really got my goat though is that the asking price is 25 grand more than a house that sold on the same street (similar spec)last year! I think they will probably get an offer though as its in a good school catchment area, will be interesting to see what eventually goes for.

@Paddingtonthebear we're applying for a nationwide mortgage via a broker and they advised upto a month for a mortgage valuation decision. They must be inundated with mortgage applications., not much you can do about it.

Although the buyer pays for the valuation they don't normally see it as it is for the benefit of the bank/building society not you. It is purely for them to ascertain that they would get their money back in the event that they had to repossess the property.
All you will hopefully hear is that the valuation was ok and the mortgage company are happy to lend you the amount of money you wanted.

Might report them to the Financial Services Ombudsman then.

If I am paying £100 for a valuation then I expect to see a valuation.

Just got the message below from Nationwide, as we're not existing mortgage holders we have to wait upto a week for a valuation.

Hi, Nationwide here. We've received your mortgage application. If you're an existing customer switching to a new deal, your switch has been accepted.

Mine is with Nationwide. The valuation figure is provided in the paperwork from them. Was a little hidden, so had to really search for it. Mine came back £4k less than my offer, which I was not going to argue with!

@Overdon it's so annoying! I get that they're busy but it would surely save them time by not having to deal with people ringing up to enquire about houses that have already sold 😂

Anyway, three viewings booked next week. All nice houses with various compromises (of course). Hoping more will come on after half term but I'd be happy with any of these.

I haven't seen anything of interest come on the market in the past couple of weeks 😩 and I'm looking in a wide area.
Is next week expected to be busier? 🙏

In terms of new listings, not much here either. Hoping for a post jubilee burst of action.

My vendor has gone on holiday. I've been asking for a 2nd viewing for 3 weeks now. They've said I can have one when they get back in 2 weeks. If it doesn't happen I'm going to formally withdraw from the purchase. They are in a chain now, I'm at the bottom. If I withdraw then that makes them non proceedable. As it stands, I am looking for something else as I think it's ridiculous to expect me to buy a house without a survey or 2nd viewing. It's only cost me the £100 valuation fee so far, as I've instructed my solicitor not to do any work until I've done a 2nd viewing and seen the survey.

Hey all,
A small update from me. I have booked in a Level 2 survey. I know I have read some not very encouraging posts about a Level 2 survey, however I have a chartered surveyor doing it, and I believe the survey will be better than "the carpets need changing". He is doing the survey tomorrow morning, and I have asked him to call me in the afternoon to give me a summary really, I just want to know any red flags. I suspect there may be some lack of completion certs (maybe for extension, although it has prior approval but I know planning and br are different things, and I know this is not great but honestly, every house I have had any interest in always lacks some paperwork (I know because I can check the planning / br on the council's website). I pulled out of a purchase last year because of a loft room, and structurally the floor had not been strengthened. I suppose what I am saying is that I am expecting the survey to say some scary things, and there may be a missing cert or two but I need to put things into perspective and consider risk. I honestly cannot face house hunting again, I've been in the situation for over two years now and I am so fed up.

Anyway, just feeling petrified of the survey results and what it may mean! There is no question of negotiating on price, that just won't happen in this market.

Good luck with the survey!

Just had a viewing, nice enough house but garden not private enough and a lot of work needing doing. Two more tomorrow, and I'm hoping for a flurry of listings after the long weekend.

4 weeks since our mortgage application was submitted. Finally found out the valuation figure has been agreed but still waiting for the actual mortgage offer to be confirmed. Ugh

Failed to exchange again today. I am so sick of this. And sick of this seller.

I'd like to think we aren't picky but I feel like there's rarely anything on the current market and often when there is, it's overpriced! Finding a house feels impossible and we are on the verge of settle for something that doesn't make our heart sing as we desperately want to move from where we are currently. 😭 baby number 2 is due in 13 weeks and the thought of raising another child in our current home is stressing me out!

Good to hear your valuation was fine @Paddingtonthebear!

Good Luck with the survey @areyouhavingagiraffe level 2 ones can be very thorough so that should be sufficient. They always sound scary but hopefully there will be nothing too awful

Completing on Friday. I had a convo months (!) ago with the seller around us renting so not being under so much pressure to go go go on the day, and she interpreted it as the pressure being off her too! Got an email from her last night saying something about timings… no, it’s my house as soon as the money goes through 🫤 I think! I’m a FTB but I have at least done some research. So tiring.

I’m taking a day off work today as I need a Mental Health Day. It is strange to be so stressed about a good thing. I spent the last two years being stressed about bad things (dying parent, awful job) and this is different but actually just as bad!

Feeling so utterly uninspired by househunting at the moment. Jaded. Another viewing this afternoon but I expect it will go to best and finals and I just can't be bothered with the disappointment when I get outbid yet again. So dull.

@dubyalass why do you keep getting outbid? How many times? And are you looking at houses outside budget?

Cash buyers downsizing - it's just me so I am looking at smaller properties than families might be interested in, and these also appeal to cash buyers who can just drop an extra £20 or £30k. I'm in Cornwall where the market is ridiculous but also there doesn't seem to be much rhyme or reason to asking prices. This afternoon's viewing is offers over £250k but a place opposite (which has one more bedroom and is a bigger family house) has just been reduced to a guide price of £260k. So if I offered £260k at this afternoon's viewing, would it not be better to just buy the bigger reduced house across the road? My budget is up to £300k for something that ticks most of my boxes so I have room for manoeuvre but I don't want to pay ££ over asking for something that isn't going to be suitable in the long run.