Should we pull out of this purchase?

hazyjo

I'm the first one to think people are overreacting, being unrealistic or impatient,  but even I would walk from this one. Can tell it's not what you want to hear. At least start looking to see what's out there.

Also, don't see the point in pushing for a completion date, you're nowhere near that by the sounds of it.

deannagone

I would walk away because of the issues you described.., but also in an environment of rising costs, if a further increase of mortgage interest rate (beyond the rise to 5% with a new property) would cause financial problems and there is no guarantee they won't rise further - I would be looking at lowering my expectations and looking for properties i could afford if mortgage interest rates do go up further.  I suspect they will. 

On top of this, with the property you are currently trying to proceed with, what happens if it needs something major doing - how will you pay for that?  You don't really know what you'd be moving into right now, but have enough evidence to suggest there are problems.

MalMonroe

And here is another vote for 'walk away' - and also 'run'!

Sometimes, when things become too difficult you have to ask yourself why. And sometimes I do truly believe that the fact that there are so many difficulties with an issue that there's something trying to tell me - or in this case you - to let it go.

It may seem right now that there is nothing else for you to buy but very often you have to actually let go of the thing you're desperately clinging to before the alternative pops up.

There IS something out there for you - but most of us here think it isn't the house you're fighting so very hard to buy. Buying a home shouldn't be like that. You really deserve better. Better treatment and better house. Good luck     

Schwarzwald

I had a very difficult seller myself, yelled at me on the phone, took 10 month, now moved in for 9 months and v happy.

not sure i would walk.

Is the vendor friends with your parents? Odd to have the vendor invite them.

The roof survey worries me.
but reading a bit between the lines, it could also be a respect and feeling offended issue, not necessarily a house issue.

He feels you are negotiating him downwards, ask many silly questions which are all not necessary, want to inspect the roof to find reasons to negotiate him down, etc. plus you seem much younger than him so there might be a respect issue for your “inexperience”.

the down valuation is primarily your issue, not the vendor’s.

if you can, make up the equity yourself, resist on the remaining two surveys with promise that unless bigger issues arise you dont negotiate the price (if bigger issues, just drop the purchase), but in parallel, start looking elsewhere.

IMHO, yes life is too short to work with difficult vendors, but life also requires persistence, it might take another 2-3 months with work it out with this difficult character to enjoy the property potentially for 20-30 years. That is heavily skewed towards you,

i also nearly lost it on my vendor after 10 months and 2 failed exchanges, now havent thought about him ever since really.

TripleH

That the seller is being uncooperative and with 2 failed purchases already, I'd walk away.

We had a purchase where the paperwork supplied by the vendor was half complete (they had previously had 2 failed sales). When we sought clarification, she didn't know (ask my husband) and he was on his way to Cyprus and never got back to us.

This was supposed to be a quick chain-free sale.

That the paperwork is a mess and 'apparent enforcement notices' casually dismissed indicates they either don't care / are trying to drop the problem on someone else. I also suspect they have 'spent' the proceeds of the sale mentally (or its priced for what they want/need for onward plans).

The property sounds like it could become more expensive and if you're near your ceiling, you could find life becomes unhappy.

BUT you need to decide what is best for you.

walwyn1978

Seller is uncooperative, failed sales previously at the property, refusal to let surveys etc done often indicates they’re worried about something = pack up and look elsewhere. There will be more issues come up, because that’s how it works and your man has already shown his hand.

london21

Walk away, so many signs. 

You will get something better. 

[Deleted User]

House prices are going to fall 7% over the next 12 months according to HSBC's study released Friday (link: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/b43e71fa-2ae6-11ed-9092-6adde03bf612?shareToken=e9a27237d9f5e7165e8e4ad9c5af13fd) so I would have no hesitation walking away if the seller is being difficult especially in refusing a roof survey and where you've agreed a high-ish price. Maybe he'll come running to you being more reasonable or (more likely) you'll find a better house from a different more reasonable seller at a lower price, but could take longer.

Shaztastic3000

Offer 360k

prowla

Sounds like a money-pit.