Too many house sales?

[funnyhoneybunny]

Hi everyone.

I’m house hunting and seen a property I really like the look of. It ticks almost all of my boxes, however the sales history is putting me off.

For reference it’s a 3-bed semi-detached, 2 hours from London in a “sought-after” area due to schooling (excellent primary and secondary schools in this area).

I’m wondering if there’s other house related issues such as rodent problem..problematic neighbours etc.

This is the sales history

Year sold + Sold price

2019
£201,250

2011
£152,500

2007
£130,000

2002
£109,000

1999
£60,000

1996
£48,000

Would you be vary in my position?

It wouldn’t bother me - sounds like the sort of house and in the sort of area that people would trade up from as their career developed / family grew?

Check out crime and flood risk. Put post code into houseprices.io and see what the turnover of other homes in that street/area has been.

Check out the usual worries as per the advice of @XVGN but I wouldn’t be overly concerned. Most people have stayed a few years and maybe it’s the sort of area people do tend to move a lot for work or to upgrade.

Thanks @Tryingtokeepgoing @Twiglets1 @XVGN

I’ve also seen that the owners previous to current owners only had the property for 5 months and sold it (to current owners) at a loss of £20k. The sale was recorded as a non-residential transaction!

I would suggest this was a relationship breakdown. Doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with the house itself.
Also, depending on the size of the bedrooms, a 3 bed house can often be a “starter” or “stepping stone” house for young families just starting out. If one room is particularly small it can easily be outgrown once baby number 2 or 3 comes along.
If you’re worried, do some more research, house stalking at different times of day, and I’d suggest a full structural survey rather than just a homebuyers report to alleviate any concerns about the structural integrity if that is what worries you.

I would advise a full structural survey and a drain survey if you proceed. If I had done so I wouldn’t have bought my current house.. I think you are right to be cautious.

It wouldn’t bother me. As others have said, it sounds like a stepping-stone type house, and most people look as if they’ve stayed for a reasonable amount of time. You will of course get a survey and check out the area yourself.

Have a look at when the neighbours houses have sold - that will give you an idea of it is an area/house style thing (if similar pattern) - or if they’ve remained in the same name for all those years then maybe it’s a neighbour problem