FTB- 5mths and still no closer to buying :(..did any buyers find what they wanted?

sterl1ng

I've been looking at properties for 5mths now but nothing has really spurred me to want to put in offer. Only after two bed garden ground flat in croydon, max budget 210 but really its proving harder than I first hoped. Does it really take so long to find right place? Most two bed places I've seen generally have small second bedroom which puts me off.

I wonder if I'm being unrealistic or does it really take this long? Would love to hear your stories, perhaps will give me glimmer of hope.:j:j

NervousHomeowner

5 months isn't terrible, but I guess it depends how many houses you've seen in that time, how stagnant the market is in your area and how much of a hurry you're in to move. We're FTBs too and we found the place we're buying after about 2 months but where we're living has a pretty stagnant market.

If you're worried you're being unrealistic, maybe look at sold properties and see if what you want has previously shown up in your price range? It could be that you're looking for something that just isn't in your price bracket. It could also be that you need to decide what you want and what you need - For example, does it really matter if the 2nd bedroom is a decent sized single instead of a double?

ReadingTim

NervousHomeowner wrote: »

It could be that you're looking for something that just isn't in your price bracket.

Given the OP's location, I think this is the more likely answer than a lack of properties, although this thread has some interesting answers as to how long it took to find "the one". However, after 5 months you should have a pretty reasonable idea of what your money can get you, even if you haven't found "the one".

The only positive thing I can suggest is to look above your max price with the hope of reducing it to within reach - play the 'chain free FTB card' and anything else that might help.

Otherwise, it might be a case of 'managing your expectations' and compromising on one (or more) of the following: location, attributes, price.

sterl1ng

Tbh there isn't much out there even over my budget which has grabbed my attention. I'm wondering if perhaps given summer things are dying down and reignite in sept? I suppose my requirements being specific like private ground flr garden ideally 2 double bed as hoping to rent out second room.

I guess I'll just keep being patient

SG27

I took us well over 2 years! But we were looking for something quite particular. A older 2 bed house with garden and parking for two cars. And on a budget! Offered on a few that were over our budget that were rejected. Eventually found the perfect house though!

On the place side we saved out 2 years more money so had a massive deposit so now have a nice smallish mortgage

sterl1ng

My concern is I'm still renting whilst property is going up so fear is ill have to cough up more in few more months as im in london

SG27

sterl1ng wrote: »

My concern is I'm still renting whilst property is going up so fear is ill have to cough up more in few more months as im in london

Ah yes. We had the opposite we were looking while prices were falling so felt quite confident in waiting it out, making low offers and saving more.

sterl1ng

It's hard to tell when london prices will fall, all I keep reading is how property is going up up up....bit like my blood pressure when reading such articles

SG27

sterl1ng wrote: »

It's hard to tell when london prices will fall, all I keep reading is how property is going up up up....bit like my blood pressure when reading such articles

London is just a different world. I'm probably 40/50 miles away with direct train links to central London and prices are flat at best. The appeared to be still falling when we bought in February. Go by what see not what you read in the papers. Especially the mail and the express. They seem to run the same headlines of rising house prices rising all the time. Even when prices were falling heavily in the recession!

sterl1ng

Aside from reading or Brighton I cannot think where else outside of london would be good to live plus bit scary to live out of london even though I'm not from here! I guess it's the overrated buzz though I know OH would be happy to move out of london

geoffky

Took us well over 2years...We were after our forever house in our mid 40s..
Take your time because no way can you get a feel for the market in a few weeks..