I’m not into “woo” or spirituality or anything, but I often think these things have a way of working themselves out.
After two years of house-hunting, we found our dream house. Literally ticked every box and we knew we’d have to put some money into it, but would have been able to. All went well- survey was good, no issues with searches etc.
Day before exchange, buyers gazumped us in favour of a cash buyer who approached them directly. We were already down the cost of surveys, solicitors etc. I was so upset and angry, I cried.
Licked wounds for a few months and decided to take a break from property-hunting. Was fed up of the whole thing and felt we’d been made fools of, so confidence was shot. Let mortgage approval in principle expire.
Then I saw our house accidentally when browsing through a newspaper that had a property section. I was determined not to get attached but I could literally picture my family sitting in the kitchen when I looked at the photos.
Went to see it and realised it had so, so much more going for it than house 1- we’d have had to put about £135k into house 1 to get it up to the same standard.
We had the most amazing mortgage advisor in our bank and she was able to re-do our approval in principle in a matter of days as we’d gone outside the six month window.
We put in an offer and kept getting outbid by a cash buyer. Dropped out when it got to £40k over asking- more because I didn’t want a repeat of what happened with the first house rather than affordability. When we withdrew, I actually told my husband that we’d hear back from the agency.
Two months later, the phone rings and it’s the agent saying that the cash buyer turned out to not be proceedable and the house was ours at our last big if we wanted it.
Said yes on the spot, moved in two years ago, and am completely in love with it. Feel like pinching myself sometimes because I can’t believe it’s mine.
So this house may not be the one for you, but there’ll be another.