We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.

This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING: Hello Forumites! In order to help keep the Forum a useful, safe and friendly place for our users, discussions around non-MoneySaving matters are not permitted per the Forum rules. While we understand that mentioning house prices may sometimes be relevant to a user's specific MoneySaving situation, we ask that you please avoid veering into broad, general debates about the market, the economy and politics, as these can unfortunately lead to abusive or hateful behaviour. Threads that are found to have derailed into wider discussions may be removed. Users who repeatedly disregard this may have their Forum account banned. Please also avoid posting personally identifiable information, including links to your own online property listing which may reveal your address. Thank you for your understanding.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Lender valuing property at less than agreed price

Hi,

We currently going through the process of buying a property. It had an asking price of £365k and an offer accepted for £342k - an offer they had originally rejected, but came back a week later asking if it was still on the table! We felt this was a very good price for what we had seen in the market for this price range.

We are buying the house with a 85% mortgage, but the lender has just come back saying that their valuation says the property is only worth £325k, and will only lend us 85% of this. This has left us needing to stump up an awful lot of money now if we are to buy the property at the agreed price - but this will wipe out any money we had left to furnish the property or spare cash for any emergency.

I've not seen the reasoning behind the valuation, or what type of valuation has been done but will chase up for the report today.

Is there anything we can do about this situation? We have heard that one option for us is to negotiate on the buying price with the sellers - how should we approach the estate agents about this?

Thanks
«13

Comments

  • LandyAndy
    LandyAndy Posts: 26,377 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts
    I would tell the sellers that you aren't prepared to pay more than the valuation and see what they say.

    Point out that future valuations are likely to be similar.

    Your next move depends on their response and how much you want the house.
  • googler
    googler Posts: 16,103 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    LandyAndy wrote: »
    Point out that future valuations are likely to be similar.

    ..and that anyone getting a similar mortgage deal to you also won't be able to buy at their price without having substantial funds behind them....

    Contact the EA, tell them the house was valued by your lender's surveyor at £X, and your offer is reduced in line with their valuation, which dictates what you can afford. Don't hint to them you are able to put more cash in (even if you can)
  • I would be delighted if I was you.

    Offer 325k and save 17k:beer:
  • go_cat
    go_cat Posts: 2,509 Forumite
    I've been Money Tipped!
    Have you spoken to the estate agent, that would be my first point of call, let them do the negotiations
  • Wait to see the reason why.. our last valuation valued it at less but it was just cos of some potential issues on the survey that were checked out and turned out to be nothing. If its a genuine survey issue definitely knock that amount off your offer! (unless its something really bad.. )
    Trying to think of a clever witticism, but cant, so... *insert clever witticism here*
  • andy.m_2
    andy.m_2 Posts: 1,521 Forumite
    Buy the surveyor a drink as well, he may have saved you a tidy sum!
    Sealed pot challange no: 339
  • This happened with my buyers - valuation was 20k less than agreed price.

    My estate agent asked them to try a differerent bank / building society for their mortgage and hope their valuer values it at the agreed price.
  • PasturesNew
    PasturesNew Posts: 70,698 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Some prices are laughable. EA guesses the price, then they always stick an extra bit on ... and the sellers cling to that extra high price, believing that's what it's worth. A surveyor has a different eye on the ball .....
  • LandyAndy
    LandyAndy Posts: 26,377 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts
    Good_Money wrote: »
    This happened with my buyers - valuation was 20k less than agreed price.

    My estate agent asked them to try a differerent bank / building society for their mortgage and hope their valuer values it at the agreed price.

    If I was a buyer and a professional valuer told m ethe house was overpriced I wouldn't be trying too hard to prove him wrong.

    Nice try by your EA though.
  • LandyAndy wrote: »
    If I was a buyer and a professional valuer told m ethe house was overpriced I wouldn't be trying too hard to prove him wrong.

    Nice try by your EA though.

    I was pleased with the estate agent I picked.
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 352.3K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.7K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 454.4K Spending & Discounts
  • 245.3K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 601.1K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 177.6K Life & Family
  • 259.2K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.7K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.