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Original poster

How long has your house purchase taken [so far]??

966 replies

dubyalass · 27/08/2022 15:15

I had an offer accepted in mid-June; no chain. I've had my mortgage offer through and the survey done. There is an issue with ownership of an outbuilding so the vendors are sorting that out with the Land Registry. Searches not done yet but unlikely to be anything tricky there.

I'm hoping that I might be in by the end of October but realistically who knows. I've no idea how long the LR are taking to process casework at the moment. Once that's sorted it should all be pretty quick.

OP posts:
flummingbird · 02/01/2023 13:27

Hi all. Another one waiting to exchange. I think it's all ready to go, my solicitor called asking what date I wanted the Thursday before Xmas, then she called the Friday morning to say both my buyers and sellers solicitors (the whole chain) had already finished so couldn't get it agreed.

I have no idea if the date my seller and I want will be ok, had spoken to them directly before Christmas as they happen to know my mum. We are aiming for Thursday 12th, I have started packing in hope... my poor buyer has been waiting 5 months so doubt she will argue the date!

SquashSqueezee · 02/01/2023 15:34

We were due to exchange week before Xmas but our buyer seems to have disappeared into thin air and not answering EA call.

We had offer accepted and chain completed in August. Third house trying to buy, two previous chains collapsed with one being on day of exchange so can’t help being a nervous wreck.

Market totally changed so think our buyer likely got cold feet but doesn’t want to drop the bad news before Xmas. We’ve got removals etc pencilled in but this time not paid any deposits for anything before exchanging.

Feel terrible will be having to break news to our kids again when they are so looking forward to moving to a house with a garden.

Whole process has been a nightmare and really taken a toll on me and my marriage, the thought of having to start again is horrible.

sorry the bleak post wishing everyone luck that exchanges and completion happen

RM2013 · 02/01/2023 16:42

@nellyelloe the anxiety is off the scale!! Im just hoping maybe they’ve not seen my message or they’ve switched off for Xmas and new year knowing nothing is going to happen anyway

RM2013 · 02/01/2023 16:43

@flummingbird keeping everything crossed for you. We are hoping the move week commencing 9th Jan too fingers crossed

flummingbird · 02/01/2023 16:45

Here's hoping we all get updates tomorrow and can get some definite dates sorted!!

RM2013 · 02/01/2023 16:59

@SquashSqueezee that is awful I’m so sorry they haven’t been able to get hold of your buyer. Hopefully they just were away for Christmas and needed a break from
it all rather than got cold feet.

we are on our 2nd buyer but first one pulled out after just a couple of weeks we were lucky enough to get a new buyer a day later but that was in august when the market was moving quickly. It’s very stagnant now and our mortgage offer expires 1st March so we wouldn’t be able to move if we lose our buyer and onward purchase. We would have to stay here and re mortgage but we wouldn’t be able to do what we need to do to give us the extra facilities the new house will.

let’s hope it’s positive news this week

SquashSqueezee · 02/01/2023 17:09

@RM2013 we are in the exact same position with the mortgage offer, if we lose our buyer we won’t be able to find another one and complete and won’t go ahead on the higher rate so Will be back to square one.

looking forward to tomorrow so can at least get some updates! The signs have been there all month that buyer having second thought but just been hoping could get it over the line. All parties have agreed to completion date of 25th but know from previous experience it means nothing without exchange!!

Original poster
dubyalass · 02/01/2023 18:56

Crossing my fingers that you all have good news tomorrow. It's enough to drive anyone demented.

OP posts:
RM2013 · 02/01/2023 19:25

@dubyalass thank you. The stress lifted for a while over Christmas but it’s back with a vengeance. Fingers crossed for positive news.

hope your move goes well this week

RamonaBadwolf · 02/01/2023 19:43

Hi all, been reading this thread with interest. Im about to list my house and need to sell by the summer (part of divorce agreement) Im hoping I’ve given myself enough time! Have also set myself up for heartache having completely fallen for a house online over Christmas. Can’t wait to speak to the agents in the morning!!

RM2013 · 02/01/2023 20:31

@RamonaBadwolf welcome
to the thread. We sold our house end July but buyer pulled out and 2nd buyer offered 23rd aug - we are hopefully near completion. The thing that has held us up is our onward purchase. Hope your sale is smooth and fingers crossed for your dream house

RM2013 · 02/01/2023 20:32

Phew our buyers have been in touch they’ve just been manic over Christmas. They are excited to move and have said they are ready whenever we are so will be chasing solicits tomorrow to push this forwards

FuzzyPuffling · 02/01/2023 21:32

Ooh oooh oooh RM. That sounds like progress indeed! Good luck tomorrow.

Original poster
dubyalass · 02/01/2023 21:41

Oh good news @RM2013 !

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RM2013 · 03/01/2023 13:31

Well another disappointment today as contacted the solicitor and they have said that they still haven’t received the transfer form so that’s 2 copies which have allegedly been signed and returned - one on 30th Nov and apparently another sent guaranteed next day delivery on 22nd Dec. someone isn’t telling the truth and I feel like we are never going to get this resolved. The solicitors answer is “we will have to send another copy to the previous owners”

flummingbird · 03/01/2023 13:50

Oh thats awful @RM2013, I'm sorry, it's terrible when you're relying on other people and there's nothing you can do.

RM2013 · 03/01/2023 13:55

I am so frustrated with everything

nellyelloe · 03/01/2023 14:07

It's beyond a joke isn't it? @RM2013
Like us apparently all ready to exchange before Christmas and then told our buyer actually doesn't even have their mortgage offer.....

Dic · 03/01/2023 15:01

Can't find my previous name on here but we are just waiting to hear on an exchange date. Expecting it to be next week and will push for exchange/completion on same day.

No chain and new build. Getting the mortgage offer was stressful but fingers crossed we will all be sorted and in our new houses soon.

RM2013 · 03/01/2023 16:37

@nellyelloe oh no had they just not applied for their mortgage? How long will it take to get their offer?

RM2013 · 03/01/2023 16:43

Well there has been a lot of communication back and forwards today. The solicitor has now said that they will hand deliver another form to the previous owner this evening but that it will still need to be signed by both owners (they split up) and posted back.
I lost it with the estate agents as they told DH that they had been in direct contact with the previous owner who refused to drop the form back with the solicitor (it’s only in next town) but that she was prepared to take the signed form back to the estate agents as they are in same town but she couldn’t get there until next Monday and then it would also need to be signed by the other previous owner.

I said this wasn’t good enough and this came to light 7 weeks ago and that we aren’t prepared to wait any longer. I’ve given them an ultimatum that unless the signed form is with our solicitor by Friday we will be pulling out.

I really don’t want to pull out but I think the estate agent has been thinking we wouldn’t pull out no matter what.

I’ve told them we will continue with our sale as we don’t want to lose our buyer but we will be considering a move into rented accommodation and looking at a new build (several new developments have been released)

flummingbird · 03/01/2023 16:53

@Dic cani ask why you're wanting to exchange/complete on the same day? I've only ever heard people at not to do they as so much can go wrong!

My solicitor today has said my buyer has agreed 12th but still not heard back from sellers solicitor. So frustrating! But they said we may do same day exchange/completion and my instinct was nooooooo

Original poster
dubyalass · 03/01/2023 18:57

I'd be smelling a rat too @RM2013, and I'm sorry to hear it's not better news. Has nobody checked the royal mail reference to see whether it was delivered?

I think you're doing the right thing by threatening to pull out. When I did the same, their solicitor magically became able to email things rather than post them and suddenly things got moving.

OP posts:
LionessesRules · 03/01/2023 19:23

We exchanged and completed on the same day.
It was a LONG day, as things were slowed down - we were waiting at the estate agents at 4.50 for the keys, knowing they shut at 5pm. But our vendors wanted to move, and they had ballsed things up, creating a delay, and they took most of the hit - we had a takeaway in the new house, and went back to old house for the night!

RM2013 · 03/01/2023 20:10

@dubyalass im suspicious too. I know someone is telling fibs but I don’t know if it’s the original sellers saying they have posted the forms but haven’t or whether the solicitor have received the form and are telling porkies.

Weve had a look on rightmove and there isn’t anything in our price range to buy but we have seen a rental property that’s bigger than the house we are buying. I’ve been having a look at the new builds but they seem overpriced for the size of the bedrooms.

will see if tomorrow brings any news