Should you view houses over budget

Worried

We think the maxium we can go to is 205k, 208k at a push, but most of the properties we see that meet our needs are priced at 215k. Is it worth viewing properties over our budget, especially when they've just come on the market? Do people generally view properties that are over budget? I realise people may take offers, but I feel uncomfortable going to see houses I can't afford, in case I fall in love and can't have it! Estate agents seem to be pushing us to see properties up to 220k, is that because they're hoping we'll like something so much, we'll miracously be able to find more money from somewhere, or because they genuinely feel the vendors would be open to offers?

A11yson

Why not - most vendors are open to offers and they can always say no!!

Doozergirl

I bought a house marketed at £215k for £205k a while back.

There is also someone on a current thread in the throes of negotiation and they already know they can have a house being marketed at £215k for £207k, but they're still pushing hard for some more money off.

So, £215k is not too much for you to be viewing!

kennyboy66_2

We had to pay £7k over the asking price & over our budget almost 8 years ago. We did on the basis that

a) We knew we could afford the increased mortgage payments.
b) We knew we would be extremly unlikely to move house again (at least in nexty 20 years).

Best financial decision of my life - and I appreciate how lucky we were.

brownie2

Estate agents encourage vendors to put their house on market for, say, £220000 in order to acheive £210000. Vendors should hopefully realise that negotiations are to be expected.

back2square1

Hi just read your concerns regarding looking at properties at £215k-£220k. I am the person in the throes of negotiation at this very moment in time. Please read everything on there because you will see how I have used different sources of information to be able to negotiate and how I went about it.
The one thing that is not mentioned on there is that last week I viewed a house for £230k twice, it is being sold by corporate company as they bought it in part exchange therefore property is empty.

Anyway, we placed final offer of £219k and it was refused on Monday we were gutted because we loved the house even though it was more than we wanted to pay. Fortunately the house that we are currently negotiating on came back on market due to previous buyer dropping out, plus this house is actually far nicer, better location, needs no working doing to it and very tasteful decorating!!!!
Today we have received a call from the EA for the previous property where we were refused the £219k and they are now willing to accept it!!!! We told them it was too late because now we have found better property at alot cheaper price, ha ha.

I shall keep updating my own thread regarding my current housebuying escapades and believe me it is nailbiting stuff but I would never have been able to negotiate as well as I have if it wasn't for MSE and the wonderful help you receive in this chat forum.

stolt

our budget was 410k i could have stretched ourselves alittle further but we went to look at a house on monday night for 425k, they had a previosu sale fall through at 418k so i knew i could probably get it for that, but I offered 414k Tuesday Morning and they agreed.

It will make life slightly harder for us but its a lovely house and the best we have seen by far,

cross_lips

I agree with all the other posts. I have just brought a house and placed a lower offer than what was being asked initally. I got my house for £5k less than the asking price.

Even though offers were put in for the min that the vendor was looking for, our offer was accepted due to being FTB with nothing to sell and therfore in theory speeding the sale.

Hope all goes well for you.

safesound

This house was being marketed for a little over 100K, we eventually secured it for 94K. Its always worth viewing at a level just above your maximum as you just never know