We can't find anywhere to live!!!

thriftychap_2

We live in the south east and have recently sold our flat. Unfortunately we can't find a property in our town that we want to purchase. It looks like we will have to move in with my parents until something we like becomes available.

With all of the news of a depressed housing markets in which buyers hold most of the cards I thought our search would have been easy, how wrong I was!!

phill99

Maybe you have set your expectations too high. Maybe widen your search area?

thriftychap_2

We are happy with a 2 bed for 170 or a 3 bed for 250 so not restrictive.

Area/the road is important to us. No social housing is a must!

IHateDida

I don't want to depress you but I am in exactly the same situation - only that I sold my house last year - and am still trying to find somewhere to live!

I don't have high expectations (or didn't think I did!) - I am prepared to buy somewhere to do up or somewhere already done up....but like you, area is important. And it seems that others think so too - people in the nice areas aren't selling, or the very few that have sold, sell very quickly and you can blink and the house will be gone!

Demand is completely outstripping supply in the nice areas. If I wanted a house on a new build estate or in a grotty area - I would be able to take my pick!

Its definitely a sellers market in my area at the moment At least I am saving money....but I am now getting quite desperate to spend it!!! I have stuff in storage that I can't even remember!!!!!!:rotfl:

So I am feeling for you....but do think of the extra money you will be able to save for a bit!:D

thriftychap_2

IHateDida wrote: »

I don't want to depress you but I am in exactly the same situation - only that I sold my house last year - and am still trying to find somewhere to live!

I don't have high expectations (or didn't think I did!) - I am prepared to buy somewhere to do up or somewhere already done up....but like you, area is important. And it seems that others think so too - people in the nice areas aren't selling, or the very few that have sold, sell very quickly and you can blink and the house will be gone!

Demand is completely outstripping supply in the nice areas. If I wanted a house on a new build estate or in a grotty area - I would be able to take my pick!

Its definitely a sellers market in my area at the moment At least I am saving money....but I am now getting quite desperate to spend it!!! I have stuff in storage that I can't even remember!!!!!!:rotfl:

So I am feeling for you....but do think of the extra money you will be able to save for a bit!:D

Where are you living? Parents?
Like you we will be quids in, able to save 3k a month. If it takes us as long as you we will be in a really good position, it's just putting up with parents again!!! We have only been married a year.

I have observed similar to you. Anything good gets snapped up and even the vendors of poor houses want top price!! Where abouts are you? We are south of london within commuting distance of the smog.

Debt_Free_Chick

thriftychap wrote: »

With all of the news of a depressed housing market

And that, I think, is your problem. There are few properties on the market as many are simply "sitting this out" or improving rather than moving.

in which buyers hold most of the cards I thought our search would have been easy, how wrong I was!!

Buyers only hold the cards when there's a property on the market that they want to buy.

I'm in the same situation. Nothing on the market - or what's on the market is out of my price range.

Agree with other suggestions - either move in with parents and save; or ... rent ...?

IHateDida

thriftychap wrote: »

Where are you living? Parents?
Like you we will be quids in, able to save 3k a month. If it takes us as long as you we will be in a really good position, it's just putting up with parents again!!! We have only been married a year.

I have observed similar to you. Anything good gets snapped up and even the vendors of poor houses want top price!! Where abouts are you? We are south of london within commuting distance of the smog.

Yep - staying with the rellies!!!! Its killing us! But...we are wanting a decent location so are prepared to wait (we have made a couple of offers but surveys have shown "issues" of some description).

We're in East Anglia. We have had fingers burnt on a property before so have accepted that if we rush, it could happen again. We don't want a bargain either (ok...I lie - everyone wants a bargain!) - we just want a house (that isn't falling down) in a decent location. Definitely no estates!

We do however go away quite a bit now! No council tax, bills is actually quite nice (although we would rather have a house!) - the rellies won't accept any money but we do all of the cooking and gardening as repayment, and of course we buy food.

Make the most of saving - £3k is alot! We can't save that amount but we do save as much as we can.

badrobot76

Could not agree more, myself and familiy have been looking for best part of a year, have saved a good deposit ,which
has been saved through hard graft and we live in Manchester. The stock coming on in the 200-250k price bracket is rubbish.:mad:

Queen_of_the_Hive

having been in a similar position last year its definitely worth putting up with the short term inconvenience. With us we ended up in a bed sit / house share thing where the owner had an awful habit of steaming chicken which stunk the house out!!

Defo focus on saving where you can and maybe consider buying something which is more than your current budget (if you can afford it). We realised we couldn't realistically get what we want with our current budget (and the available property at the time) and upped it (mainly by hubby putting more money into property and being prepared to pay more on monthly mortgage payments). We got a lovely house in London with garden in the area we wanted, it does need a lot of work to make it how we would like it, but its a good size and has potential for extra bedroom so a wise investment.

Running_Horse

You've missed the spring rush, so it will be months before lots of new properties come on. It's funny how some are on here refusing to pay "deluded" prices due to an ongoing "crash", while others can't find the perfect property in their price range. Some buyers even fall into both categories.

zappahey

thriftychap wrote: »

If it takes us as long as you we will be in a really good position, it's just putting up with parents again!!!

How happy do you think your parents are to be putting up with you again?

Your apparent lack of gratitude to them is astounding, given that they are bailing you out of voluntary homelessness.