Is it possible to bid for a house anonymously ?

illuminate

I'm aware that the seller(s) will discover my identity eventually, but is it possible to secure the purchase before this happens ?

bargainhunter_3-2

What do you mean by bid? If the property is going to auction then the seller will not need to know your identity before the auction finishes, but if the sale is by informal tender (i.e you make an offer via an estate agent) then it will be more dififcult to keep your identity from the seller. In order to 'secure the purchase' you will need to have exchanged contracts and that requires the purchasers identity to be disclosed.

You could always buy through a company (you can form a company for less than £100) to avoid your name being disclosed to the seller, but this would have other implications with mortgages, etc.

silvercar

Easily, just tell the estate agent you had a falling out with the sellers brother, so you would prefer to use a false name until a sale is agreed.

Premier_2

Unless sold at auction where you won't need to reveal your identity (use proxy/telephone bidder if you really are that paranoid) then the property won't be sold until the seller signs the contract which will need your name on it.

You cannot force a seller to sell to you.

Chris2685

All useful info above... I would love to know why you want to though

illuminate

OK.... I'll come clean.

First off I should have said "make an offer" rather that bid. We are not talking about an auction here.

The situation is that I intend to buy out my ex. Unfortunately, I believe that she has an unrealistic opinion as to the value of the property.

When she refuses my offer (which I consider more than generous since, I intend to base on valuations that are almost 6 months old), I'll call her bluff and say right lets put it on the market.

..... hence the need for an anonymous bid/purchase or she'll reject offers/pull out thinking I've pulled a fast one, as I'm more than likely to get it for 10/15K less than the valuation on which I base my original offer.

That'll just get us both back to square one, when I want this sorted.

lynnexxxo

illuminate,

Surely the market will work for you on this one? Get you wife to put the property on the market at what she thinks its worth. If your right she will get no offers and would be more likely to accept your offer.

Premier_2

I think what the OP is suggesting is putting in a ridiculously low anonymous offer which will of course be rejected.

Then put in a similar low ball offer just above that rejected in the hope of conning the ex out of several thousands of pounds.

Wrong forum, Moneyscammingexpert.com is over there ! >>>>>>>>>>>>

lynnexxxo

Premier wrote: »

I think what the OP is suggesting is putting in a ridiculously low anonymous offer which will of course be rejected.

Then put in a similar low ball offer just above that rejected in the hope of conning the ex out of several thousands of pounds.

Wrong forum, Moneyscammingexpert.com is over there ! >>>>>>>>>>>>

Fair point but if they do put the house on the open market then chances are that the won't get any offers of what the ex thinks its worth.

wishiwasarichgirl

are you actually allowed to put an offer on a house which you are selling?

Why not offer your ex what you think it is worth, if she says no then agree to put it on the market at the value she thinks it's worth, but with the agreement that if she does not recieve any offers in a set amount of time, she accepts your original offer? Then you are not doing anything which could appear underhand.

Hillfly

You may run into issues with the agents over selling fees too.