julicorn's journey 2 - Moving Up

julicorn

Thank you @doingitanyway  

julicorn

Hi all! 

A few of you checked in already on the thread I started in the house buying section of the forum: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6390254/chain-fallen-apart-what-would-you-do#latest

As you can probably tell from the title, our onward chain has gone up in flames and it's all a bit chaotic at the moment. Mr julicorn and I have decided to sell up anyway, break the chain and rent for a bit. Our seller is still umming and ahing over what exactly she wants to do, so on the weekend we took the initiative to go view a couple of houses again - and one of them we liked so much that we put in an offer! I know, it feels a bit like groundhog day or a time machine back to February / March, but if you could cross your fingers for us and send a bit of positive energy our way, that would be really nice because we really need it at the moment. 

The house we've bid on now is really different from the flat we're currently in the process of buying - built in 2017, very energy efficient, solar panels, open plan living room... It's really modern, but still has a fair bit of character for sure (doesn't look like a cookie cutter new build). It's in a less desirably part of Brighton, but one that's a) conveniently close to our work, and b) 5 minute walk from our allotment So we're currently spending any waking moment in that neck of the woods anyway, and it'd save us the 45 minute + bus ride each way. It's also only a few minutes walk away from the South Downs, so we can finally go on walks that aren't just rounds around our local park.  
Oh, it's also chain free. Currently tenanted, but they're moving out in November (contract already signed on their new home). 

After months and months of just stress and anxiety, and desperate attempts to save the purchase (even offering a 5 figure sum for our seller to go into rented so we could wrap up the purchase before our mortgage offer ran out), we finally feel a bit of excitement again  

Sistergold

Oh dear! @julicorn my head started spinning reading all that has been going on. What a stress? Will be keeping my fingers crossed on this new purchase that it goes smoothly! It also sounds like it’s a “better find”, close to allotment, work etc! All comes out in the wash doesn’t it’s? 🤞

julicorn

Sistergold said:

Oh dear! @julicorn my head started spinning reading all that has been going on. What a stress? Will be keeping my fingers crossed on this new purchase that it goes smoothly! It also sounds like it’s a “better find”, close to allotment, work etc! All comes out in the wash doesn’t it’s? 🤞

Thanks so much Sistergold! We haven't heard back yet on if our offer has been accepted, but this morning I woke up feeling happy/excited (thinking about the house) rather than just stressed and anxious for the first time in who-knows-how-long, so I think we're doing the right thing. I hope we hear back soon. 

TallGirl

Sounds great I really hope you get it. If it’s meant to be it will happen I’m sure. 

LadyWithAPlan

Good luck with the house and the chain, being so close to your allotment  and by a lovely walk sounds ideal

julicorn

Thanks so much @TallGirl and @LadyWithAPlan

I checked in with the estate agents around lunchtime and apparently they still haven't been able to get hold of the sellers, so we continue to wait! I know they live in France, but I didn't think they lived on the moon - how hard can it be to pick up your phone?
Ah well, we just continue crossing our fingers!

julicorn

A little update: 

The estate agent has spoken to the sellers, they'll discuss in more detail tonight but are keen at the moment for other viewings to go ahead because our offer is at the bottom of their guide range (£525k-550k). He said that we might want to consider increasing our offer in the meantime. I told him that given the current market conditions, location of the property, and in the absence of other offers (I have reason to believe ours is the only one so far), we're not increasing our offer, and that we'll leave it on the table for the next few days but that we won't hang around forever. 

Maybe a bit harsh, but I'm tired of being messed around

In the meantime, the estate agent we're currently still buying the flat from has let me know that our seller has started to look for a new house to purchase, and has booked more viewings for this weekend, because she's getting fed up with the lack of response on her re-negotiation attempts. So we now know that she still wants to sell, that's something, but it's an open chain either way. 

Apologies if this is getting confusing - we haven't told our seller we're pulling out, so the flat isn't completely off the table, but at the moment we're leaning towards the eco house if we can get it. 

TallGirl

Sounds like a right game of cards best to keep all options open. If they are in France they might not realise how things have shifted here in the last few months. 

julicorn

TallGirl said:

Sounds like a right game of cards best to keep all options open. If they are in France they might not realise how things have shifted here in the last few months. 

I was thinking that, hopefully the estate agent relayed some of what's going on. 
I just don't love the idea of them 'using' our offer to create urgency in other viewings, but I guess that's what it is. 
The re-emergence of our current seller has at least taken the pressure off a tiny bit. We shall see.