To those BUYING in these difficult times....

Catatonia

Good that you've found a rental, Grimbal. And that sounds like a useful EA, Llama.

Can't believe this is still dragging on for you, Sonastin. It sounds incredibly frustrating. It's easy for others to tell you to walk away but more difficult when you've already invested so much energy in the purchase.

I have found a house I really like, and the seller is considering my second offer over the weekend. I am just crossing my fingers that he says yes!

johnthebar

I can join this thread now

We're FTB's buying a 3 bed terrace in East London. We had our offer accepted on 14/01 had the survey done, mortgage offer through and solicitors instructed by 21/01. We're now waiting for the vendors to send thier paperwork through and I've been chasing this through the EA this week. The house is currently vacant, so we were hoping that everything could move fairly quickly, however the vendors live in France, which may delay things a bit.

The survey threw up a few issues and I went round with a builder on weds and his quote to fix the main bits was very reasonable. I had a separate damp and timber survey done yesterday and will hopefully get that report through this weekend. I'm crossing my fingers that nothing major turns up in that.

I had a good day today though. I managed to bag a more or less brand new IKEA bed with a really good mattress on freecycle :cool: It's only been used for a couple of weeks and it seems as though the mattress cover zips off so can be washed easily. Every little helps at the moment.

The_Drama_Llama

Pah! Our offer was rejected - 250 on a house up for 275 since September. EA says they want 260...well they can whistle. I'm a FTB and 260 is actually an extra 18k with Stamp Duty. Obviously there are hoards of other cash buyers out there breaking their door down *tumbleweed*

I've left in on the table, pointing out that we had seen other houses and were making other offers...hopefully there will be another call this week. Should have gone in at 240 and made them work for 250...but I thought I'd be 'nice' since I thought we'd end up at 250. They bought in 2001 for 137k so it's unlikely they need the extra 10...

Meh...

Grimbal

Oh that's a shame! They seem like they're being a tad unrealistic if they think they're going to get anyone to break the stamp duty threshold. Hopefully, they'll be that call waiting for you when you get home in a few days !

AFM: I've still got my eye on that new build that we offerred 80% on about 3 weeks or so ago. We're thinking that the developer is hanging on until the Spring/early summer to see if they get any interest in a more active market. Hopefully, viewers will take one look at what is a terribly designed family home and run a mile leaving our offer looking much more attractive to them. I have terribly itchy fingers at the moment - I'm desperate to call the EA to re-submit our offer, but trying not to as I know that they need to have a general lack of interest for a while to make our offer look acceptable

rosspwilliams

5 months after making our offer, we have finally exchanged contracts today, and all going well, we will complete on 15th.

Grimbal

congrats !

Funkygibbon

We looked at a house that has only been on for a couple of weeks. It's on for £130,000, estate agent said the seller is prepared to pay the stamp duty. Obviously wont exempt anything under £125,000.

The_Drama_Llama

Hehehehe...that didn't take long. EA just rang to say he's told the vendor he's being 'stupid'. Then some whole convoluted thing about going to see the house the vendors want to buy...blah blah blah. Upshot is, he will call me tonight, hopefully with better news...

spadoosh

The_Drama_Llama wrote: »

Pah! Our offer was rejected - 250 on a house up for 275 since September. EA says they want 260...well they can whistle. I'm a FTB and 260 is actually an extra 18k with Stamp Duty. Obviously there are hoards of other cash buyers out there breaking their door down *tumbleweed*

I've left in on the table, pointing out that we had seen other houses and were making other offers...hopefully there will be another call this week. Should have gone in at 240 and made them work for 250...but I thought I'd be 'nice' since I thought we'd end up at 250. They bought in 2001 for 137k so it's unlikely they need the extra 10...

Meh...

I tohught FTB's were exempt from stamp duty

spadoosh

appologies sub 250k, thats way out of my budget so didnt need to know anyways?!?