Buying from divorcing couple back to start of process - advice needed

TBagpuss

Start looking for another property, but let the agents and the husband know that you would still be interested if they can deliver. Depending on where they are in the divorce process, the husband might be in a position to force things - if there is an order in place he may be able to go back to enforce it or to get a court to order that your offer is accepted and the transaction completed. That side of things is up to him, but if you are clear that you cannot wait and so will only go through with the purchase if it can go forward now, or at least before you find an alternative, then you don't lose anything further, and it may help him to get things sorted so that the next sale they make doesn't fall through. 

safeashouses12

Thanks LouLou, good to know that we’re not the only one feeling the frustration, but also good to know that not all purchases through divorce are a pain....gives me hope for the next one!

You’re 100% right, it’s the uncertainty that is the most unsettling part. We don’t know where we’re going to be renting in 2 months (once our sale hopefully goes through) let alone living for the long term, it’s somewhat draining. 

Hope it all works out for you and the husband gets things moving in the very near future.

safeashouses12

Quick update - spoke to EA 6 weeks after she pulled out and she still hasn’t found anywhere. I wonder if she’s even looked? Who knows but I suspect she has no intention of moving this side of Xmas (4 months away). We’re back on the market and there’s a few options we like so hopefully we’ll get one of those and we’re assuming we will pull out once we find somewhere, it’s just a case of when not if!

Angela_D_3

Densol said:

I can see this dragging on forever. She has already said she doesnt want to move. She could do it again and drag it out until her ex gets so fed up the court take over the sale, and that is lengthy and expensive 

Two years it took us to sort out and £35,000 and we were actually in bloody agreement 

safeashouses12

Update for those stumbling across this thread and in a similar situation, in our case it did work out in the end. Took 9 months altogether and we weren't sure it was ever going to happen, but the lady did find another place and moved in the end. We're in the house now and no issues.

I will definitely be trying to avoid a divorcing couple next time but I am sure something else will throw a spanner in the works, such is the awful home buying experience in England.

Thrugelmir

safeashouses12 said:

I will definitely be trying to avoid a divorcing couple next time but I am sure something else will throw a spanner in the works, such is the awful home buying experience in England.

My buyers didn't just have to contend with just a divorcing couple. The searches also revealed that the small development of houses built in a rural location. Were on the site of a chemical works that dated back some 150 years!  Something that was later discovered some years after buying the property from new. Created no end of investigative work to resolve along with an expensive indemnity policy. 

Pok3mon

She didn't happen to be in Kidwelly did she? We had the same, House had been on the market for about 4 months we did not understand why good price, only 11 years old good size and location, perfect condition.

So called the EA it took 2 days to get hold of the vendor, Then she would only do viewings on Sundays after 6pm (this was Monday) Viewing was awkward one word answers eg Bedroom, Bathroom. Just put this down to nerves. We liked the house so called EA next day offered full price as it was worth it. EA took a day to get hold of her again she would let us know in a week, the EA was not happy so pushed her she said she wont accept any offer until she has found a place. 

The EA happened to be a different branch of our EA so we got our EA to have a chat with other EA he come back to me saying we are wasting our time she has done this to venders at least 3 times and just keeps people hanging.

We think it was a divorce scenario as the youngest had happy graduation cards so could be being forced to sell once kids leave education. 

As long as she shows willing the ex can't do anything in the mean time others suffer the fallout.

Shame I liked the house and it is still for sale.

Ally_E.

Thank you for updating us. We are currently in the uncertainty of a purchase of a house from a divorcing couple. They managed to get back together and now want to purchase a house together tying it into the chain, but they promised chain free house to us. Our buyer is getting close to exchange, but no progress from purchase side and the chain is not complete and we have barely any communication unless we chase their EA multiple times. My partner is very frustrated with it all and wants to pull out, while I like the house and with so few properties coming on the market now, can see we will struggle to find an alternative.

lookstraightahead

I think it's important to remember that whilst house buying and selling is stressful, divorcing and having to move out of your home is in another league, so those divorcing aren't going to have the energy to meet your needs and timescales as a buyer. It may also be that one of the divorcing couple wants to sell and the other doesn't.

I had to sell my home following a divorce as I was in a lot of debt and couldn't maintain it. I pulled out three times because people were hassling me to move quickly (this was a long time ago).