Please help - I don’t know what to do!!

[Houseshousesbuttheresaproblem]

Help!

A few months ago, after I cinched a first time buyer, I found a beautiful house. The owner had passed away and the house had gone through probate and was good to go for sale by the owner’s DC. I viewed it with my DC, we loved it, and we arranged a second viewing for DH a couple of days later as he was working away. It had ample space for our DC, a second reception room and parking (albeit for one car).

The next day, after confirming the second viewing with the estate agent, I went online and saw that the house had sold (I had no idea that someone else was interested otherwise I would’ve put an offer in). I called the agent immediately and I was told that it was sold; they refused to put my offer forward to the vendor until I got advice from people here, but the vendor declined my asking price offer.

I then found another house on a street over the road, which is smaller than the first house, and does not have parking. The second house is nice and has been decorated nicely, but only has two rooms downstairs (large kitchen / diner and living room). There was lots of interest in it but our asking price offer was accepted.

Here’s the rub; we are due to exchange on the second property shortly. Searches have been done, survey completed, we are basically waiting to exchange! I’ve JUST had a phone call from the first estate agent to say the first house has fallen through and do we want to view it again…

I have booked a viewing so DH can see it, but I’m just torn.
What would you do? I know we would lose all the money we have paid for the survey etc on house 2, but do we jump ship this late in the game? Morally I don’t think I can do it!!

House 1; £350k
No occupants - house has gone through probate
Big enough to last our family for years
Parking and small drive
School catchment
lovely old features and tall ceilings
long garden
detached

House 2; £294k
vendors are buying their next property from a friend which is almost completed
only two reception rooms downstairs
Long garden
no designated parking / driveway
school catchment
really nicely presented
End terrace

What would you do??

House 1 has fallen through twice? Stick with what you've got as there's a risk you could lose both.

Plus, your update shows that house 2 really isn't that bad at all.

I’ve seen other people do this, and it ended badly. They regretted jumping ship for a long to come.

With the extra info, I'd stick with 2

If DH is on-board, go back and view both properties in next 24-36 hours. See how you both feel then.

Could you extend house number 2?

You're getting it for £50k cheaper, so that's £50k towards an extension already, and it's in a better area

I voted jump ship but your update...hmmmm

Is it possible to extend house 2 in the future?

Sorry for the late info in my last post - I was making a mental list of pros and cons and they just came to mind!

Yes we could extend #2 - it has a lovey long garden that isn’t overlooked, whereas #1 is (I wish I could post links but would be incredibly outing and don’t want to risk house 2 pulling out if they think we are unreliable!).

House 2 was lovely and has a log burner, is homely and will last us a few years. Only making this move for the school catchment!

Also, we sold our house for £10k less than what we are buying house 2 for, so we will be paying similar mortgage payments which is good for us.

1st house would need modernisation in time - kitchen is very small and bathroom is… tired. Also, there is a very random shower on the landing which I’m concerned could’ve caused damp in the wall (it literally looks like a wardrobe but with a shower in - like a disappointing Narnia!).

We are viewing on Monday so will see what we think then, but I just feel that 2 is right for us.

Based on your updates I think I would stick with number 2

The more you talk, the worse number 1 gets 🤣

If no 1 sale fell through twice, there's probably an issue, either a legal one or condition.

Stick with 2 and don’t bother to do the viewing on house 1

@xyz111 haha I know!! The ONLY things swaying 1 for me is that it is detached, extra reception room, and a big workshop in the garden which DH would use. Other than that, I really like 2 and had envisioned exactly where all my furniture would go. Yes, #2 is not the perfect house but it is the best in the area, in our budget and within a fantastic school catchment. I was gutted when #1 sold, but I do wonder if that was fate that we then found #2. For the DC, #2 is the “safest” option in terms of giving them their independence to go out and about to the shops and the park … but from a safe distance to the road!

My DH is a very conscientious guy and he was feeling so guilty at the thought of letting #2 vendors down but I think I just need him to see #1 so I can either let it go… or, well let’s see how the viewing goes 😂🙈

I think it’s still a good idea to view house 1 again. But it sounds like in your heart you are coming round to the idea that you would be happier with house 2 anyway.

Imagine : if you went with house 2 and had walk past house 1 every day

That's your answer

I was all for property one until I read your updates. Now I'm firmly on property two.
I think property one might hold a few nasty surprises.

You don’t sound like you really like house 2! Try for house 1 and if it doesn’t work go on the hunt again x

With that 50k you could buy all the extras no1 -had but you can't add all the better features of 2 into house 1. The location and school etc.

Or are you trying to convince yourself you love number 2 more than you do so you don't have to make that decision... Perhaps neither are just right?

Oh, I've definitely switched to number 2. Nicer, safer area and non-overlooked garden would be top of my list. Plus you can still extend. House number 1 is sounding like a potential money pit.

House 1 sounds awful. Stick with 2 as you do actually like it and it has potential. Location is key.

For buyers to pull out of House 1 so late in the game must mean there’s a problem. The Estate Agent will never tell you the real reason as they are hoping you will buy House 1 to avoid them re marketing and wasting time by starting the whole process again.

Sounds like you’ve dodged a bullet.

I've changed my mind. Stay with 2!

I wouldn’t even bother with the viewing tbh. I’d be planning my extension!

Go for the nicer area all the time. Location. Location. Location.

You have to put yourself 1st. Don’t worry about anybody else.

Definitely stay with house 2. Extend if you need to. The garden will be lovely and I think location is more important than more parking tbh

Your poll has a big majority for house 1 but that's probably because they haven't read your additional information.

House 1 has disadvantages. Its plus is an extra reception room but you can extend house 2 so the lack of one room needn't be permanent.

You can build a workshop if it's really needed, or a shed.

And you could move in and enjoy house 2 right away.