Page 3 | Can’t find a house to buy

Owlsandeagles · 2026-05-22T13:23:33+00:00

We had an offer accepted on our house over a month ago and still can’t find a house to buy. Where we live the pricing gap between 3 bed semi and ‘next size up’ 4 bed detached is nearly £200k, which we just can’t afford. We’re even considering other 3 bed semi’s, 4 bed semi’s but because the price gap is just so big no one is putting this size house on the market. It’s just insane, and really depressing! If I’d have known we’d be stuck in this house when we bought it 10 years ago we probably would have stretched ourselves and got something bigger back then! We can’t rent as we have a low mortgage rate that we need to port. This is so ridiculous!!!

Whysnothingsimple · 23/05/2026 13:45

LemonSorbetCone · 22/05/2026 17:13

The overpriced probates are really wearing me down!! There seems to be no regard for actual value or condition of the property. One agent told me ‘the daughter wants that much to pay off her mortgage’. My response was ‘don’t we all. But nobody just gives us money for nothing’

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I don’t get the “over priced probates” comment. We’re selling a house out of probate, it’s not overpriced at all. 6 viewings in 1st week, 4 second viewings booked. There’s a good £100k drop between a fully done up version of the and asking price..

Maybe you’re not being realistic what you can afford ?

LadyLapsang · 23/05/2026 15:16

On the ‘overpriced probate’ comment, it may help to understand that some local authorities pressure elderly disabled people and their relatives to place their house on the market, for example if they have a fall and the NHS transfers them to a nursing home. The elderly person may have no savings, having spent everything on carers at home. With all their money in the house the LA then pushes for a sale and withholds loaning money for the nursing home fees if the house does not go on the market straight away (remember the relatives may all be working full time with a very sick parent and a family home to clear and can’t magic up 6k per month on nursing home fees).Then, if the person dies, the LA will start charging Council Tax if the house is not marketed within x months of gaining probate.

WallaceinAnderland · 23/05/2026 15:45

OP I understand that you want to move but from what you've posted you can't actually afford to move? Why are you even looking at houses you can't afford?

CheeseyOnionPie · 23/05/2026 15:52

Can you buy a 3 bed 1 bath and do a loft conversion to make it a 4 bed 2 bath?

fundamentallyauthentic · 23/05/2026 15:57

Owlsandeagles · 23/05/2026 11:51

Your previous comment was we need to think about a realistic asking price for ours…. But we’ve already accepted an offer on our house so we don’t need to think about an asking price.

To be fair they’re not putting any pressure on us at all. We sold within a week.
It’s just a frustrating position to be in.

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I too would feel frustrated but when you agreed to his offer you knew you couldn’t rent after you you were due to leave and that there was not much - if anything - that was suitable in your area. It’s an unusual situation to be in, to say the least.

Laiste · 23/05/2026 16:12

My eldest DD also has a buyer and no where to go!

When i bought my first house i put in a 'speculative' offer. (Think knocking off £20k from £100k.)

It was accepted immediately! The seller was on the verge of repossession. I didn't know, and i was surprised it was accepted. I had to go back again for a more 'serious' look round. Ended up living there for 8 years and it's where i had my first 3 DCs 😊 Always think of it fondly.

Have moved 3 times since then but my point is it's always worth making an offer. The seller can just say no. It's not a personal insult to them or anything! And honestly if the seller is very rigid about their price the agent will tell you.

Liznug · 25/05/2026 16:08

When you put your house on the market… had you done absolutely no research beforehand?

Mt563 · 26/05/2026 16:44

LadyLapsang · 23/05/2026 15:16

On the ‘overpriced probate’ comment, it may help to understand that some local authorities pressure elderly disabled people and their relatives to place their house on the market, for example if they have a fall and the NHS transfers them to a nursing home. The elderly person may have no savings, having spent everything on carers at home. With all their money in the house the LA then pushes for a sale and withholds loaning money for the nursing home fees if the house does not go on the market straight away (remember the relatives may all be working full time with a very sick parent and a family home to clear and can’t magic up 6k per month on nursing home fees).Then, if the person dies, the LA will start charging Council Tax if the house is not marketed within x months of gaining probate.

Edited

Are you saying they're priced high to avoid a sale?

PancakeCloud · 26/05/2026 17:01

Owlsandeagles · 22/05/2026 16:36

It’s rubbish isn’t it! We earn good money between us, but my husband is late 40’s so can’t take a mortgage on for too long a time. Otherwise we’d probably be able to do it 😩
Market just feels absolutely dead except for overpriced probate houses.

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Just make an offer and see? If they’re overpriced you’re in with a chance surely

Whysnothingsimple · 26/05/2026 17:22

LadyLapsang · 23/05/2026 15:16

On the ‘overpriced probate’ comment, it may help to understand that some local authorities pressure elderly disabled people and their relatives to place their house on the market, for example if they have a fall and the NHS transfers them to a nursing home. The elderly person may have no savings, having spent everything on carers at home. With all their money in the house the LA then pushes for a sale and withholds loaning money for the nursing home fees if the house does not go on the market straight away (remember the relatives may all be working full time with a very sick parent and a family home to clear and can’t magic up 6k per month on nursing home fees).Then, if the person dies, the LA will start charging Council Tax if the house is not marketed within x months of gaining probate.

Edited

But If the person is in a nursing home the house isn’t being sold out of probate? You can’t get probate until someone is dead. The costs of keeping a house running when empty usually means you want to sell asap

nonmerci99 · 26/05/2026 18:08

Chin up, OP! If it makes you feel any better it took us 10 prior offers and 3 months after accepting an offer on our house to find our perfect property and have our offer accepted. It helped we had sold as had our chain (2 parties) at time of offering, as it was executors looking for a quick sale of their mum’s home. Fortunately our buyer knew we were looking for an August move, so there was no pressure there, but it felt incredibly soul destroying.