Is anyone still looking at houses to buy?

rilou81

Hey

Just a quiery really, I know a lot of people said the market had slowed early (Nov time) so just wondered if anyone out there is still seriously looking at houses?

Not online as I do that religiously everyday anyway!!! But booking viewings with the view to offer??

I know its slow so just wondering? We are looking to reduce the price of our house as its now become more urgent to sell but think we are bext waiting until Jan as xmas is only 4 weeks away!! We are still looking but I wouldnt dream of booking any viewings now until after xmas as just so much to do!! x

G_M

If you seriously want/need to sell before Christmas you'll need to price very attractively. No serious buyers till new year.

Better still, relax and wait till 2011.

rilou81

No urgent need for 2010, but def the first 3 months of 2011 otherwise we will have to rent and I am not that keen on the idea.

I know a lot are exchanging now but thats due to the 'get in before xmas rush' and we have well missed the boat!!

Think we will hold the price until the new yr x

AnnaV

Everyone I know who is buying/selling have either had offers accepted and are going through the final stages now or are waiting until next year to buy (including us).

elle-bells

I am desperatly looking for a house but they are all too expensive for what they are where I am - they seem to all have been on the market ages and not being sold despite most of them being reduced - even then they seem a little over priced. One of the estate agents has started putting (obviously repossed) houses on "at a realistic price" (there words in the adverts) which is much more like it, but unforntuantly not quite where I want them.

rilou81

AnnaV wrote: »

Everyone I know who is buying/selling have either had offers accepted and are going through the final stages now or are waiting until next year to buy (including us).

Thanks, confirms what I thought about waiting until the new year x

tara747

Not really tbh, with the full extent and impact of the cuts still unknown we are just sitting tight and waiting to see what happens. House prices WILL fall further in 2011 and, if interest rates rise, all bets are off. If prices have fallen so much with IRs at 0.5% there will be a bloodbath if IRs go up.

Oh, and prices are still too high around here (and in most places). We are in the minority in actually having a deposit saved.

rilou81

elle-bells wrote: »

I am desperatly looking for a house but they are all too expensive for what they are where I am - they seem to all have been on the market ages and not being sold despite most of them being reduced - even then they seem a little over priced. One of the estate agents has started putting (obviously repossed) houses on "at a realistic price" (there words in the adverts) which is much more like it, but unforntuantly not quite where I want them.

Totally agree, some of the houses ive seen online are way overpriced. Best thing to do is look at what you want and offer the price you want. Worst they can say is no.
I do think its difficult now though as buyers are offering 10/15% under the asking price and some people are putting their houses on at this price to start with for a quick sale and still people are offering 10/15% under that too.
Looking at recent prices is not always correct either as the house next door to me sold for 30K under what we want for ours over a year ago, but believe me there is a LOT of work to do-they still haven't moved in!! In reality they paid for a shell and a shell that needed a new roof at that, good luck xx

stmatt

Hi,

We're actively looking to buy now. We've just moved to a new area and are renting at the moment but we really want to have our own house.

stmatt

tyllwyd

In our area, very few houses seem to be going under offer, but there are a few that have suddenly sold after being on the market for months - but without any change in the price. My theory is that there are very few buyers around, so if someone does find that they are in a position to buy, they are rushing out to put an offer in on a house that they may have been watching for a while. So my logic is that at the moment, there may be someone out there who likes your house but if they are waiting for their own property to sell, knocking £10K off the price of your house won't make them any more able to buy. It might bring your house into the right price bracket for someone who is just sitting waiting for the right thing to come along ... but unless you are marketing to first time buyers, I don't see where that person is going to appear from - if they actively looking for a house at around that price I would have expected that they will have gone to see your house and tested the water with a low offer. For me personally I'd wait till Christmas is over, have a look at what the market is doing, and then make your decision.

rilou81

tyllwyd wrote: »

In our area, very few houses seem to be going under offer, but there are a few that have suddenly sold after being on the market for months - but without any change in the price. My theory is that there are very few buyers around, so if someone does find that they are in a position to buy, they are rushing out to put an offer in on a house that they may have been watching for a while. So my logic is that at the moment, there may be someone out there who likes your house but if they are waiting for their own property to sell, knocking £10K off the price of your house won't make them any more able to buy. It might bring your house into the right price bracket for someone who is just sitting waiting for the right thing to come along ... but unless you are marketing to first time buyers, I don't see where that person is going to appear from - if they actively looking for a house at around that price I would have expected that they will have gone to see your house and tested the water with a low offer. For me personally I'd wait till Christmas is over, have a look at what the market is doing, and then make your decision.

Thanks makes a lot of sense! We are a target FTB house though and have though about offering 5% gifted deposit in the new year as we are very aware its the hardest target area as a lot don't have the deposit saved.
I am watching the market like a crazy lady so will sit tight as you suggest and take action in Jan and just enjoy xmas!! x