At what point is it reasonable...

ndf9876

...to consider pulling out of a house purchase?

So to frame the question in some context, my wife and I are first-time buyers with no chain behind us, a mortgage offer (OFFER - not AIP) and found a property, instructed solicitors etc.

However, 6 weeks down the line, our solicitor has heard nothing from the estate agent or the vendor's solicitor. Nothing. Not a bean. Our solicitor won't do searches that would incur a cost (quite rightly IMO) until they receive something (a draft contract I expect, although I'm not 100% on the terminology).

We have already had a full building survey done which was acceptable and kind of not really in scope regarding this question.

The property is vacant and the EA claimed that the vendor was a property investor and has no interest living in the house, however our solicitor has advised us of two things which lead me to believe someone isn't telling the truth :

1. Property was not registered correctly in the vendor's name.
2. The vendor's "related purchase" (exact wording) fell through and may cause delay.

Given these facts we are seriously considering pulling out. I love the house but there will be others we love just as much, so that's no issue. The question is, really, is it normal to go for 6 weeks with absolutely nothing from the vendor when a transaction is supposed to be chain-free on both sides? Or do you think someone is yanking our chain here?

I am going to speak to the EA later on today but they've not been returning my calls either - when I ring, they say they will speak to the vendor and get back to me, but no dice.

Do you think we're right to be worried or just getting our knickers in a proverbial twist over nothing?

Thanks in advance for the advice

Tenyearstogo

Don't pull out but start looking elsewhere. If you find somewhere else to buy you can make a decision then.

Just don't spend anymore money on the house you've offered on. There's obviously something not quite right with the vendors situation at the moment but it could get sorted so don't back out unless you want to.

Ellie007

I agree with tenyearstogo. We were in a similar position to you a few years ago - our sellers had emigrated and literally disappeared for weeks with no contact with EAs or solicitors, just prior to exchange. Our buyer was desperate to exchange so we started looking elsewhere but found nothing, and eventually our sellers reappeared, seemingly confused at the fuss they'd caused. In the end we exchanged the day before completion on our purchase, but had exchanged on our sale two weeks before, so very nervous times!

Interestingly, we got the house very cheap as we later found out that the previous buyer pulled out, for exactly the same reason and the sellers had had to get a bridging loan....

Fire_Fox

Give the estate agent a very clear deadline for action, then book viewings for other properties through the same agent.

ndf9876

Some good advice here - thanks - think we'll take it and get some viewings booked in, whilst I give them EA a clear deadline.

What a process! Phew!!

ndf9876

Just to end this story, we were given some flannel by the EA on Friday that the vendor was tied up in some sort of legal matter regarding the property which was due to have been resolved this week (their words, not mine).

We went on some viewings over the weekend and, rather surprisingly, found a property we absolutely loved. We had a long think about it and made an offer today (Monday) which has been accepted, and have pulled out of the original purchase.

It beggars belief that someone selling a house would not be prepared or ready to actually sell it - still, not my problem now

Again thanks for all the replies, this story has had a far happier ending than I thought it would!!

Slinky

See........ some things are meant to happen for a reason!

Hope everything goes well with the new purchase.