[thewoodies]

phoned agent for feedback on 2nd viewing!

Shes not in until this afternoon , and still no ones knows anything arggggh!!!!

Makes me wonder if she would let the office know if she actually made a sale!!!!!????? :wah

In the local paper this week with both our agents :yes

But at 2 different prices :confused:

Rant over!!!!! :exit

[victoria24]

its amazing how poor our agents are in relation to their NZ counterparts. Ive been beaking at some tv stuff recommended by janey and the NZ agents are on it 100%
i did mention this to one of our agents. as welcome as a pork chop at a jewish wedding...

[thewoodies]

victoria 24 - you have just me laugh :laugh:laugh:laugh

[Mrs TW]

Update on us. We had our first ever viewing at the weekend (been on market since Easter) and ..........

Just received an offer!!!!!! OMG.:D

Advise please. It is 10k below our new asking price and 20k below our original asking price. We are so desparate to get to NZ that the temptaion is to say yes please and book flights NOW.:clap

However, I am trying to think it through. Should we try to push just a little more and risk loosing them and go down rent line which we have looked into OR snap their hand off due to current market.:confused:

I still have the fairy and will send it on its way very shortly to Kerry and David, however, Victoria24 has also asked for it so perhaps they could be next after Kerry and David?? Hope this is ok?

Nicki

[IanR]

Bearish housing notes out this morning is affecting sentiment. This was published in his mornings Financial Times Alphaville......

Merrill Lynch has published a real gloomy note on the sector

some big downgrades in there

the analyst Mark Hake is pretty highly rated

and here are Mr Hake’s thoughts on house prices

UK House prices
We would reiterate that our underlying macro assumption behind our forecasts is for UK house prices to fall by up to 17% between 2008-09. We remain comfortable with this view but would highlight that expectations for UK house prices have moved sharply lower over the last month.

The Halifax index (nonseasonally adjusted as used by the derivatives market) is now down 7.3% from the August 2007 peak. Property derivative mid-pricing indicates a further 27% decline over the next three years. 18% decline is expected over the next year (May 2008 to May 2009) followed by a further 8.5% decline in year 2 and 2.7%decline in year three.

If this decline is realised, UK house prices would have fallen 32% from their peak. This would result in house prices in 3 years time returning to a similar level to September 2003.

The charts below compare the decline with the 1990 correction – even in real
terms it looks significantly worse, with house prices falling faster and further and very little recovery in real terms expected over 20 years. 10 year mid forwards are quoted at 105% - hence house prices are expected to be below their August 2007 peak in a further 10 years time (May 2018)
NH:
so prices could head back to the level on Sept 2003
NH:
scary stuff

http://ftalphaville.ft.com/blog/2008/07/07/14350/markets-live/

[Red Devil]

Fantastic news Nicki... I'd see if they can meet you half way. If no joy, you can always agree with their current offer.

Best of luck :nice1

[Mrs TW]

Thanks Red Devil.
That was what the sensible part of my brain is telling me (my heart says take it and run)

If they refuse to go any higher, can you go back and accept their first offer then?

[Mrs TW]

Hi Ian,
Didn't notice your post as it was on page before!
Was 2003 low prices?

[IanR]

That's OK Mrs TW... by the way the brokers note says 'should' not 'will' - everyone's just guessing but it does appear that the banks won't be in a position to go back to the levels of lending (which some view as irresponsible) any time soon... I initially felt a bit 'iffy' taking a hit when I sold mine last month but I'm now more than happy that I did..


On a positive note, similar falls ought to take place in New Zealand ... in fact I'm amazed that prices in Kiwiland are holding up as well as they are, be it that they are paying almost 10% mortgage rates and petrol/food price rises are proportionately more painful given the lower wages and higher NZ taxes..

[Alan]

Update on us. We had our first ever viewing at the weekend (been on market since Easter) and ..........

Just received an offer!!!!!! OMG.:D

Advise please. It is 10k below our new asking price and 20k below our original asking price. We are so desparate to get to NZ that the temptaion is to say yes please and book flights NOW.:clap

However, I am trying to think it through. Should we try to push just a little more and risk loosing them and go down rent line which we have looked into OR snap their hand off due to current market.:confused:

I still have the fairy and will send it on its way very shortly to Kerry and David, however, Victoria24 has also asked for it so perhaps they could be next after Kerry and David?? Hope this is ok?

Nicki


Great news on the offer but feel you need to park your emotions (where possible) and look at the overall picture i.e. are they in a position to proceed (do they have their mortgage agreed etc), how big if any is the chain?, how quickly are they willing to echange with you?

Weigh all these up before you commit either way as having all these things in place are also worth a bit of money.

[Janey]

Go for Mrs TW!
an offer what is one of those if we are offered this weeekend £20k below (thats a £75k reduction from inital asking price and dreams of no mortgage in NZ) 'I will snap it up I am so fed up of the whole thing and my life being on hold
Victoria yes don't they work our agents are unqualified and lazy!

[Mrs TW]

Thanks all.
Alan - there are apparently in a very good position. She has sold and is presently living with her mom and he is all set to rent his. They are in a favourable position of not having to sell his house to proceed, they are ok with profit from hers and savings! What are those I long to scream!!!! We have no savings to our name so fair play to them.
I do want to say to them if we accept they have to complete within a very short period of time. 8 weeks max. As they have no chain I am hoping this may be possible but that lies in the hands of the solicitors etc I suppose.

Thanks also Janey - My heart is screaming accept too but with no savings we are just trying to get best possible scenario and capital to start us of in NZ.

Posivibes to everyone else out there. I will keep you informed of how we get on

Nicki

[nickydwuk]

Nicki- we had an offer well below our revised asking price. We did some number crunching and worked out if we could afford to accept and still move to NZ. They were 1st time buyers (ie. no house to sell). We worked out we could - just. Before we accepted we got another buyer who offered us £3k more. You just need to weigh up the pro's & con's. What is the minimum you need (not want) then negotiate as others have said. If they can't raise the price and you can afford it I would say - YES. :yes

[macuser]

Well we had a viewing last week, first one for ages, but no offer. We have listed the house on a private house selling site too. Anyone had any luck with those?

Keeping my fingers crossed for all of us still waiting.

Helen

[Kerry and David]

Nicki - congratulations on your offer! No news from our buyers viewing at the weekend, have just sent the forms off to the mortgage company telling them that we will be renting:mad:

K x

[Red Devil]

We have listed the house on a private house selling site too. Anyone had any luck with those?

No, but we put a classified addon eBay last week and has shown plenty of interest. One particular enquiry over the weekend... a gentleman from London asking if we'd be interested in swapping our place for his apartment in Barbados :laugh

[Rusty]

Flooping Bar stewards!!! (those older than 18 feel free to change these words).The idiots that offered 220k a few months back (when we were 250k) have come back again and said they would be happy to pay 180k!!! To be honest, I would trust them even if they offered more - just told them to get lost and that we expect to rent it instead.
The thing is, I am not that angry at the offer, it just made me laugh as they are basing it on a poor, shoddy similar house nearby. If they want that one, then good luck.

[Alan]

We just had a couple offer £220K against an asking price of £275K and an acceptable price of £250K, really feel like going round and peeing through their letterbox!

[Red Devil]

Rusty & Alan... some shocking reporting there, hope things turn out the best for you.

I seriously think the UK needs to re-address matters with regards buying/selling property... Scotland's system springs to mind and like with us, the French system... you agree a sell price, sign contracts and both parties are legally bound to buying/selling or serious penalties are involved :eek: :yes

Good luck all :nice1

[nickydwuk]

Rusty & Alan... some shocking reporting there, hope things turn out the best for you.

I seriously think the UK needs to re-address matters with regards buying/selling property... Scotland's system springs to mind and like with us, the French system... you agree a sell price, sign contracts and both parties are legally bound to buying/selling or serious penalties are involved :eek: :yes

Good luck all :nice1

Thats the same in NZ - Our house there has been all signed and selaed. Thankfully we did put conditional on our house selling. Ours sold long before we put our NZ offer in and is still not finalised. :rolleyes:

[Alan]

Oh I should be sooo happy they came back with an offer of 235K, well you can imagine what was said but suffice to say they won't be buying the house at that price!

[Kerry and David]

How frustrating Alan.:mad: I have jsut spoke to our Agents and informed them that I am having some more Agents round on Wednesday and will look at going dual agency,they didn't sound too pleased but I do think that they have sat back a bit knowing that we have a buyer, also the feedback and general communication seems a bit slack. I think the other agents are hard seller, jack the lad types but I feel desperate and just want my to house sell!!!:wah
I am now at the stage whenever I pull up outside and look at the For Sale sign I growl and feel like kicking it:laugh

K x

[victoria24]

I would be quite happy if my house was atomized to dust as long ad the insurance covered it! I've loved living here but see it as a negative force preventing me from realizing my dreams now. even have thoughts that I wish we had stayed in rented and saved all the money from 10 years ago!

[Peter&Liz]

Our good news…:D

One of the viewers we had on Saturday who then came back for a second viewing on Sunday has made us an offer today Monday. She is the real deal in that she has a cash buyer already for hers and is looking to move fast.

Our bad news…:(

We are on @ £375k and we have two offers of £350k, one from a seller who has yet to find a buyer and another from a seller who chain is not fully formed.

Our new would be buyer came in @ £337500 we rejected she has come back @ £340k again we rejected and finally late today £342k which we have also rejected.

We had told our agent before that our min was £355k have come down and said that if she matches the £350k offer from the other two then we will sell, but as she is coming up in such small amounts I am not optimistic that she will go that high.

Our situation is further complicated by not yet having a decision on our ITA, it having taken a wee cholesterol detour to the MA which it liked so much it seems to be on permanent vacation there!:wah

I don’t really know what to do for the best, had she been a bit lower then I wouldn’t think twice about rejecting her, and a bit higher and we would have accepted. It just seems so close but no cigar, who knows we may already have blown it and she might not even come back with another offer but look elsewhere.

Anyone got any thoughts they would care to share do we hold or fold?

Peter

[victoria24]

take the money and run. if the commentators are only half correct you'll lose a lot more than that in 3 months

[Mickstim]

take the money and run. if the commentators are only half correct you'll lose a lot more than that in 3 months

I would agree with that. We ended up dropping from £425 to £375 and that was 4 months ago. We had been made offers in the £400 region from people unable to actually carry through, so in the end took the £375 and ran. I don't regret it as it enabled us to get on with our lives and make the move. It is easy for people who are not yet in a position to buy to make grand offers but a real buyer is worth 10 of them!

Good luck with the cholesterol issue Liz - and also good luck with the house sale!

[sizzlingbadger]

See if she'll come up to 345k then take the money and run, easy for me to say I know but honestly it may be the start of your onward journey to NZ. You could end up sitting and waiting for many more months, years to get a sale in the current market.

[Sam B]

I think from a year or so of reading this thread, plus all the knowledgeable people who forecast predictions on it, I would defo say to people, if you have an offer - accept it. Things are going to get much much worse by the sounds of it, and take years to get back to current levels.

[victoria24]

i think also that as a nation, we have got to stop viewing our houses as banks or investments. we bought our house 3 years ago for 240, spent 40k on it and would take 275. not too happy about taking a loss but the end justifies the means. if you have 100k of "profit" in the house then surely you have 100k worth of flexibility?

[Red Devil]

i think also that as a nation, we have got to stop viewing our houses as banks or investments

Very true... more doom and gloom mentioned on the news this morning :eek:

[victoria24]

i lobbed my telly out the window months ago;)

[janrzm]

As they say ' a house is only worth what someone is prepared to pay for it' until then it's only a number on a piece of paper.
We've been on the market for 6 weeks now, had 4 viewings, no offers as yet.
We've dropped our price a fair amount already to try and attract more people.
A buyer with no chain must be worth their weight in gold and I would without a doubt consider any offer if one came along.
Unfortunately for us it's a buyers market, but hopefully we may also benefit from a drop in NZ.
Obviously everyone is in a different situation and some simply can't afford to take a drop. But what will your/my house be worth by the end of the year???

[Janey]

Hear hear

9 months on the market, its our fault the doom and gloom as the day we put it on the day the media talked down the market.
No offers not even silly ones, :( yes my tv radio anything I can find has been lobbed out of the window, cash buyer for gods sake except,if NZ is your dream! having lost job opportunities and life on hold for 9 months I would welcome an offer, I am even condsidering going back to the companies that cash buy your house at what ever they offer I just want to GO!!!!!!!
My house seems like a noose forever tightening

[thewoodies]

it seems to be all doom and gloom :wah

after reading this thread - Ii am thinking were we stupid not taking offer £55k less than original asking price ????

we have now dropped £25k so its only another drop of £20,000 - i suppose its the way we look at things - ????

We are going to rent it out anyway if we dont sell

- if house prices go back to 2003 it could be worth what we paid for it - a good thing or a bad thing to rent ???? We would still have paid off alot of our mortgage

So do we sell for substantially less or rent it out and wait and see???:confused:

Why now - fed up - need cheering up - weather awful

:exit

[vixxann]

Peter- as much as it hurts I'd take the offer just to get out of the terrible UK housing market situation. If you ITA isn't resolved you can sit in a rental until its all done and dusted, safe in the knowledge that as soon as you are ready to go you can.. on your timescale and terms.

We reduced over £35k in the end but I am SO glad now that we did.

another thought - can you try bartering with any fixtures and fittings to get price slightly better? eg. we will leave carpets and curtains if you pay £xxx
also consider including some white goods and it could be easier all round and may help sway things your way with the price. Just an idea - good luck what ever you do - have you any finger nails left??!

[thewoodies]

in my misery i forgot to update

Estate agent finally phoned she had forgotten to phone me after the viewing because--------

:-she was SOooooooo busy!!!!!(doing what ????)

She then went away for the weekend and forgot completly (2nd Viewing)!!!

She said the buyer was interested but had concerns that the garden was still too small???????:confused: (was it supposed to have grown since the last time she saw it?????)


aaargh - :wah:mad::mad:

[Janey]

ah woodies buyers do think of some lame excuses don't they! we have an upside down house buyer said having seen the floor plan etc she didn't like it as there was no access from lounge straight out to garden without stairs doh!!!!!

[Kerry and David]

Woodies - I do know how you feel - we are still waiting back from what we were told was going to be a positive viewing on our buyers property at the weekend. Despite a few phone calls still nothing. I keep staring at the phone willing it to ring. :wah

[Red Devil]

... ditto, still no news from France either :roll

"OK pop pickers, let's go back to November 1982 and it's"... click here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEdZrV0j6zM) :D

[adkck]

A little update on my end....

Altogether, since the first week of June until now, we had 20 showings. All the feedback was good, priced right, lots of curb appeal, shows just right, etc....but that ONE DANG BATHROOM is really hurting us!!!:wah:wah

However, we had a showing on Saturday that went VERY well and they are a "maybe." So, we are making small progress.

Hats off those all those whom are still on the market and still hanging in there. It is truly stressful and gets old REAL fast!

[Alan]

Well we have now dropped the price from a starting price of £285K back in March to £259K today in the expectation of accepting £250K, we'll see!

[Hejwitch_uk]

no feedback form our one and only viewer as yet..... hoping no news is good news :uhoh

[Mels]

ho hum, still one potential buyer who can't sell theirs and another who has viewed, then bought plumber then daughter, so looking good, but is now on holiday for 3 weeks aagghh. We fly out 3 and half weeks after they return.

Mels

[Rusty]

Peter Liz - take them for as much as you can, but remember the plus side is the exchange rate is improving, which can make up the difference.
Mels, I don't know your full situation. But in our case (if it were like yours) we would take a part exchange and buy the smaller house. PLan being, if it cleared our mortgage and left us debt free and rent we got from the smaller house would be extra money while renting in NZ - and then you will have time to sell the smaller one. Does that make sense, I have had a few glasses of wine?

[nickydwuk]

Peter Liz - if they are cash buyers and you can afford to move to NZ on what they are offering - then I would take it. We ended up accepting less than we wanted but it meant we had a sale and would still have enough to move with - just not as much. Got to be worth it if it means less paracetamol at least :p

[thewoodies]

no sign of any viewers since we dropped the price - and we are in the local paper twice!!!!! :wah

[Red Devil]

Last night's BBC news reported more doom and gloom... must remember to stop watching or listening to anything that slightly resembles news!!! :roll

[catt]

We were on holiday last week and had two viewings while we were away.........one said they were interested but hasnt sold the other didnt give feedback at all said they would call the agents and didnt. Had another viewing today from a first time buyer who has money so waiting fingers crossed to see if we have a bite.........only time will tell but again not holding my breath. Pozivibes to everyone in the market.........have seen a number of sold signs up and around this area so there must be buyers out there.:nice1

[Rusty]

Well done Catt, seems to be some movement for you.

Our tit of a viewer seems to be looking at every house in the area and just trying to buy the best deal he can get - I hope he buys a cheap one a hates it! Harsh I know, but if all he values is price then that is what he'll end up with.
We have given up any expectation of selling and already had our 1st enquiry about renting it instead. So, on we go hoping but for a different reason. Send in the tenants...
Erm...does this mean I have to leave the thread and start a 'anyone trying to rent' one instead? ;)

[Red Devil]

... Ooh, don't even go there Rusty. Really hoping we don't have to go down that route if our place in France doesn't sell in time... it'll be a nightmare trying to arrange 3 separate tenants in a short period of time :roll

Clocks ticking... still no phone call from France :roll

[jasonelsa56]

Rusty

Where abouts in herts are you trying to rent (we are in hitchin). We have come to the conclusion that we wont be able to sell (certainly not at what we think our house is worth) so are going to rent as well. Have you had much interest?

regards

J

[jasonelsa56]

PS Rusty

Good idea on the trying to rent thread. i think there are going to be more of us as the market continues its downward slide.

J

[Rusty]

Rusty

Where abouts in herts are you trying to rent (we are in hitchin). We have come to the conclusion that we wont be able to sell (certainly not at what we think our house is worth) so are going to rent as well. Have you had much interest?

regards

J

Not too far from you, we are in Royston.
Only put it up for rent 1 week ago, so nothing yet. But, we have said that it is not available until August as we do not want to leave until September. I have never let before and do not know what is normal, but have been told that renting is strong at the moment - lets hope its in better shape than the house sale market round here. ;)

[Kerry and David]

Well have just signed up with a second agent. They agreed to a two week contract to give our house one final push before we go down the renting route.:uhoh

K x

[cathgates]

I nearly didn't post this incase I tempted fate....... but...... we have our first viewing tomorrow after we went back on the market just over 10 weeks ago:raebanana They are first time buyers like the look of the garden and asked if we were in a chain!! They're coming tomorrow night after 7 so I was out in the rain when I got home from work getting the weeds from beneath the slabs and I'm off to the supermarket to buy some flowers and bright green apples for the bowl I bought to go in the kitchen for viewings only!!!!!
I will be a wreck come 6:45 tomorrow and will only be able to gurgle and point by the time they arrive!!!
Good luck to all who have pending viewings
Cath XX

[Kerry and David]

:raebanana:raebanana:raebanana Good luck Cath have a few of these:cheersto calm your nerves!

Kx

[Red Devil]

Yep, best of luck Cath... don't forget some :raebanana :raebanana :raebanana to go with those apples :nice1

[thewoodies]

Good Luck Cath :raebanana

Did u know green apples are good for sea sickness!!!!???? I was told this when i was on a cruise - might stop you feeling sick

:laugh:laugh

[Andy-Dee]

Good Luck Cath - we are due another sale - positive vibes being sent your way.

[macuser]

Wishing you Good Luck for the viewing.

Fingers crossed for everyone

Helen

[Hejwitch_uk]

:raebanana viewer news is FAB Hope all goes according to plan - fingers crossed :yes

[Genie]

Oh good luck to you Cath, I'm sending you a big dollop of positiveness!! :nice1

[Belmont Babes]

Blinkin good luck Cath from this side of the world. Still checking in folk, POZI'S as usual ;)

[peebles16]

Just putting together kiwi fairy now so she'll arrive just in time to celebrate more sales :yes

Posivibes as ever :D

Karenx

[Mickstim]

Posivibes coming from us too Cath!!

Bx

[Janey]

good luck Cath you deserve it!

[catt]

ok the feedback came in from the viewer yesterday......hmmmm......"they liked the house but it was not the type he was looking for?" Strange as the house is a normal semi and he was looking at semi's.........i do wish viewers would be honest. oh well onward and upward :nice1

[macuser]

sorry you didn't get a bite from your viewing.

Fingers crossed you'll get another one soon

Helen

[victoria24]

good luck to everyone anxiously waiting!

[Red Devil]

Morning all

We've just had 'THE' phone call from our French agent... English couple have put in an offer of €230,000... €65,000 less than our asking price. This has been refused and French agent is going back to them immediately for their best and final offer... if we can get close to €275,000 we'll be happy :D

Hope to hear back from France this evening :uhoh

Pleeeeeeease wish us the best of luck :roll

[macuser]

Fingers crossed for you. We need some positive posts to keep us all going.

Good Luck

Helen

[Mels]

Fingers and toes crossed for you Red Devil
and for everyone else too.

Mels

[Belmont Babes]

oh Red Devil, all x'd for you:yes

[benandclare]

Best of luck Red Devil :nice1

[peebles16]

Bananas going mouldy waiting for an outing here - bring on the sales :nice1

Karenx