[JandL]

Well, its time for our 4th house price drop. Hopefully that will get the ball rolling.

[thewoodies]

People not putting in offer on house after all .............................aaaaaaargh.

Feed back from people who viewed last week - didnt speak english and so estate agent doesnt know what they thought........aaaaaaargh


Need a glass of wine

Looks like the letting side will get the house next week then.......:wah

Or should we leave it empty whilst it sells ?

[Janey]

Good luck to all you having viewings, Tiptop there is movement in Cornwall thats good we finally moved after 12 months 4 weeks ago we originated from just outside Launceston! where are you headed!
Funny enough on Escape to the country the other night (yep we get it here!) it was a family looking for a house in cornwall and one of the agents showing around was our first incompetent agent and yes he was all talk the talk you could see Catherine the presenter was not impressed! it also showed blue skies etc not sure how old the programme wsa but there has not been many of them the last couple of years!

[JoSmiff]

Hi,

We have had our house up for sale since May 08, we thought we would have plenty of time to sell, as my husbands job does not start until Sep 09 in NZ.

Our plan was simple sell before Christmas so we could still get a 6mth let for ourselves before we take the plunge! No such luck, still on the market and about to change estate agents.:uhoh

Now looking at plan B - renting the house out, don't really want the bother of it with us being so far away though - it may end up being the only option with the way the housing market is going.

Smiffy.

[Red Devil]

Well, our French property was officially sold and completed yesterday... we're feeling a little sad, but needs must for our move to New Zealand in March 2009.

Must admit though, it's a good feeling knowing that we have no strings attached for what will be the biggest (and furthest) move of our lives... just need to get our ITA completed and posted off by 4th December :eek:

Good luck to all others still trying to sell :nice1

Simon

[NZ Hopeful]

Well done Simon, so pleased for you! :raebanana :raebanana

[Andy-Dee]

OK - things come in three's, so here's to another 2 house sales - c'mon u buyers

[NZ Hopeful]

Oh Dee, I saw your name then and thought you had some good news! :wah:

Hope you are all well, we will have to try and organise a meet before Christmas. :)

[victoria24]

mucho congrats redders!

[Andy-Dee]

Oh Dee, I saw your name then and thought you had some good news! :wah:

Hope you are all well, we will have to try and organise a meet before Christmas. :)

Which Christmas ?????????????????????

............. feeling sorry for myself, not had one viewing since we dropped the price again by ANOTHER £10k.

[Hejwitch_uk]

Well, hope to have some good news here by the end of the week. We have people coming in half an hour for a second viewing (cash buyers, want to be in for Xmas if they go ahead and make an offer), and another family coming from Devon to view us on Tuesday, who are also cash buyers, have sold and have expressed an interest officially via their solicitors. Just keep everything crossed that one of them goes ahead. Must go, final plump required!!!!:exit

[catt]

Well done Red and good luck and everything crossed for you Hejwitch :nice1

We have had enough of our EA being a go between for us and our buyers so i said give them our number and get them to call us and we will take it from here. Not sure they were impressed but they did it and we invited the couple round to ours for drinks and a chat last night.

Once we got our heads together it was amazing the kind of stuff that was coming out, the agents told them one thing and told us another etc.

Anyway i would definately recommend it as we sorted out dates of completion that suits us both. We were being told that they wanted us out by the end of November they said no they were happy to go with whatever suits us as we are emmigrating so we compromised and working on completing between Xmas and New Year., difficult we now. Checking for solicitors and banks to see if they will be working that week so fingers crossed for us all please.

If the plan comes together it will give us a month to spend a week with each of our three kids and their families and also for us to see my brother and it will also save the expense of having to rent a Holiday Cottage for the month of December.

Anyway we all very happy with the arrangment and the meeting we had enabled us all to put our minds at rest and it gave us a sense of security as we all were open and honest about things, so unless something really disasterous happens (god forbid) we are on target to finally get to NZ in early Feb 2009.........will keep you posted. :yes :nice1

[Red Devil]

Catt & Hejwitch... the very best of luck to you both and all others trying to sell :yes

[TipTopAddicts]

Good Luck guys-Got our fingers crossed for you! :yes

[Andy-Dee]

Catt & Hejwitch... the very best of luck to you both and all others trying to sell :yes

See --- things come in three's well done to both of you!!!!!

Let's have another one to start the ball rolling!!!!

[lindreth]

OK, we'll make up the third. Yesterday morning we had a viewer who came back at 9am today. They just came back for their THIRD look. Here's hoping something concrete comes out of this. I'm on tenterhooks waiting to hear something!

[victoria24]

sounds super promising! best of luck and let's keep those offers rolling in!

[victoria24]

have just finished lugging manky old bags of garden waste to the dump and moving furniture about for our viewing at 3 o'clock.
i do wonder how much difference all this "house doctoring" makes but i spose you got to be in it to win it.
full forum crossing of fingers please as if this viewing brings nothing i shall commence burning the house down proceedings..

[lindreth]

Well their 3 viewings over the weekend did end up in an offer last night, yay! However it was a very, very low ball offer. $60000 under asking price. Seems like there is room for negotiations though so we threw a counter back at them. We'll see.
Good luck with your viewing today!

[Hejwitch_uk]

Wow, some promising stuff happening around at the moment, which is very nice to see. Our return viewer on Saturday is liaising with our neighbour to see if the extra land they require for their dogs is suitable, and we should get word back soon, hopefully this week. Promising viewers driving to Scotland from Deveon tomorrow morning for viewing, so hope to have news beforw the end of the week. Everything crossed for everyone else waiting on tenterhooks!!

[TipTopAddicts]

full forum crossing of fingers please as if this viewing brings nothing i shall commence burning the house down proceedings..

Try and wait till next week before you start the lighting ceremony, you could have a few fireworks as well:p - Good luck for later htese fingers are well and truly crossed!

Here's hoping all goes well with you two as well lindreth and Hejwitch uk! :nice1

[NZ Hopeful]

Good luck for everyone who has viewings lined up and offers on the table :nice1

Does anyone want this fairy? She really isn't performing very well at the moment though, just hoping she isn't hibernating til the spring! :wah

[thewoodies]

Good luck for everyone who has viewings lined up and offers on the table :nice1

Does anyone want this fairy? She really isn't performing very well at the moment though, just hoping she isn't hibernating til the spring! :wah

Not sure i do - too tired for house guests and sure fed up with all the cleaning :wah

Going over to lettings next weekend :wah

[NZ Hopeful]

Hejwitch, hope your viewers make it tomorrow - parts of the M6 are flooded :uhoh

[peebles16]

Best of luck to you all with up coming viewings and potential offers :yes
The fairy likes a wee tipple now and again so maybe tempt her with some vino to get her going again :D

Posivibes as ever to all :)

Karenx

[JoSmiff]

It all sounds good, hopefully they will drop the interest rates again in Nov and that will kick start some more viewings - here's hoping!:raebanana

I would just like one viewer:wah

Jo

[lindreth]

So, good news from here I'm happy to report. After some to'ing and fro'ing we finally have a deal. Subject to inspections etc but it looks like everything will be OK. They want to close on Dec 19th so we will have to find a short term rental just before Christmas. I hope Santa doesn't get confused and delivers my toys to the right place!
I can't believe our luck. Fortunately we were only on the market for a little under 2 months. I just read a story in the local paper today that said the Phoenix area has seen the biggest decline in house prices over the last year of any market in the US. We hadn't had a nibble in several weeks and then from the first call on Saturday to request a viewing we are at a deal by Tuesday lunch time.
I guess I'm just trying to say you never know when something will come along, try to keep positive and good luck to everyone else trying to sell in this market.
Now if we could just get our medicals back (after 2 and 1/2 weeks of waiting) we can get out ITA sent in and get out there!

[dusk]

congrats :D

[Belmont Babes]

Huge congrates Lindreth :bluebanana

[NZ Hopeful]

That's really great news lindreth, I am pleased for you even if I am a little jealous! :yes :raebanana

[victoria24]

good news lindreth! unfortunately our viewing didnt amount to an offer as they havent sold their house yet but will be cash buyers once they have! you couldnt make it up...

[JoSmiff]

So, good news from here I'm happy to report. After some to'ing and fro'ing we finally have a deal.

Great news:clap

[NZ Hopeful]

good news lindreth! unfortunately our viewing didnt amount to an offer as they havent sold their house yet but will be cash buyers once they have! you couldnt make it up...

You could also be considered a 'cash buyer' with a mortgage I suppose...... it's someones cash afterall, even if it's not yours! :exit

[Mrs B]

3 days after ageeing to give up on trying to sell the house, our friend said that she wants to rent it from us for 3 years. If that wasn't amazing enough, a couple of days after that our estate agent rang to say that someone wanted to offer us £5000 less than full asking price for our house, with out even seeing it. She is a cash buyer and willing to give us a deposit up front as well....
Dilemma was........ take the money and run OR keep to our agreement with our friend (who has just given notice on her rented property)....
The agony of choice :D

[JoSmiff]

Dilemma was........ take the money and run OR keep to our agreement with our friend (who has just given notice on her rented property)....
The agony of choice :D

Take the money and run, you will have enough to worrie about without adding repairs to UK property to the list. I'm sure your friend will understand.:exit

[ldlim]

Congrats Lindreth! We are in North Phoenix and have been on the market for a few weeks now. Only one viewing and no luck.
And if only we could have such problems Mrs B *smile*

[Janey]

Take the money and run Mrs B buyers in Cornwall are few and far between! go for it and good luck!

[lindreth]

Thanks a lot guys. Good luck to everyone, remember it only takes one!

[TipTopAddicts]

Big congrats lindreth:clap
Mrs B - TAKE THE MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!! Im sure your friend will understand. If not, well.....you'll be on the other side of the world soon making new ones;):p

[Mrs B]

What a shrewd bunch of peeps you lot are!:)
After much thought, OH and I decided that our word was our word and therefore are going to rent the house out for 3 years to our lovely mate.
It's a decision that we may well live to regret and even though she would understand, we just couldn't do it to her.
Long-term rentals where we live are as rare as hen's teeth as it's mainly empty holiday cottages.
The housing market will pick up although not in the near future, I fear, so we will just see what the future brings.
Interestingly enough, all our friends and family think that we're doing this so that we can hedge our bets and have somewhere to come back to if N.Z doesn't work out. That's definately not our plan.
Am very happy to share the 'good luck/house selling/let's get moving' cornish piskie with anyone else though!!:yes

[victoria24]

i would have taken the cash but totally respect your morals! your friend is very lucky to have you as a true friend!

[Mrs B]

We'll see if she feels the same when she finds out that she can't bang anything into the walls without fear of them collapsing!!! :exit

[catt]

Had a phone call last night to say that everything is going through, the mortgage has been finalised subject to survey, for our first time buyers, and to expect a call early next week for the survey to be completed. They want to exhange asap (so do we) and they want to move in end of January 2009 (which fits our time scale very well) they initially wanted to move in by 31 December, which would have been ok but then we would have had to find accommodation for the month of January as we plan to fly out to NZ on the 15 February, they found out that the solicitors dont work between xmas and new year.........so its kinda worked out for us the way we wanted it even though its been a bit of a ride to get here ......:clap

[nickydwuk]

Congrats Catt - it all seems to becoming together at last.

[TipTopAddicts]

isnt it nice when a plan comes together! Congrats catt :clap:clap

[victoria24]

brilliant news catt!

[NZ Hopeful]

Well done Catt, I'm really pleased for you! :)

[NZ Hopeful]

I'm expecting a call from our agent today for a viewing today or tomorrow......we're having a halloween party so it's almost guaranteed isn't it that someone will want to view?! :exit

[JandL]

And another viewing over here as well, not going to make as big an effort anymore. House will be tidy and neat but I'm not moving around furniture to make it look bigger, or baking bread....

[Belmont Babes]

Well done Catt. Really pleased for you :exit

[cathgates]

Fab news Catt, fingers crossed for you :)
Cath X

[macuser]

Excellent news Catt. Fingers crossed it all goes to plan.

Helen

[Janey]

Great News Catt here is to the BBQ!

[NZ Hopeful]

Well we didn't get a call during or after halloween party, most disappointed!

We were thinking of reducing the price to try and entice some viewers but have decided to hold off until after christmas, it usually quietens down now anyway so there isn't really much point. We will just have to see what the new year brings. :)

[tea drinker]

Well, I'm not holding my breath but I've got a viewing on Sat....my first.

A mature lady moving into the area to be closer to her daughter and apparently my house fits her list of requirements.

Have a feeling she has several properties to view.

[JandL]

Our Saturday viewers didn't even bother telling the estate agents what they thought, nice of them.

Did have a suprise visit on Monday however we had to turn away as the kids were in bed during lunch. Think he was annoyed that we didn't let him visit, but I aint waking up the kids!

[victoria24]

has the manager of our estate agents round today to see if he could take any brighter photos than the ones from the summer!
i pointed out that perhaps he should check the website listing as it had 1 bathroom listed rather than the 3 we have and no blurb on the landing page! doh!

[catt]

Well we are still in limbo.....waiting for the surveyor from the buyers building society to turn up, its been 4 weeks now, tried chasing but keep getting the same answer "they are very busy dealing with the backlog"..... i asked what backlog the bottoms dropped out of the property market so how can they have a backlog? Was told that lots of people are remortgaging their houses to get as much money as they can out of it before their house prices go down again. Now i am truly confused!!!!!! as well as thoroughly p'd off by this waiting game. Here i was thinking it was going to be relatively straight forward because our buyers are first time buyers with the mortgage in place .........oh well :wah

Sorry for the rant but i do feel much better for it now.....thanks everyone for being there.

Good luck to everyone with viewers and those waiting for viewers. :nice1

[victoria24]

Catt, surveyors lead times are a week at most at the moment. your agent should have the mortgage company's details and be verifying the survey instruction.

[catt]

Guess what!!!! The surveyor comes tomorrow......about time. Found out that the building society had been phoning the wrong estate agent (one that we had got rid of because they were rubbish) and they had been very unhelpful by the look of things. Anyway its all sorted so it will be a sigh of relief if everything goes through ok. Once we exchange contracts i will breathe a sigh of relief and then i can get excited about the move :nice1

[macuser]

Glad to see things are still moving along for you Catt.

We haven't had a viewer since July 18th.........we aren't really expecting any until the spring now. We've left getting our blue stickers as long as poss, hubby goes next friday to NZ House. Then we have a year to sell the house, sounds a long time but we've been on the market for 1.5 years and I never thought it would take this long.

Sorry, I only meant to wish Catt well and I sort of got carried away.

Helen

[victoria24]

fingers crossed for you catt

[JandL]

That must of been very annoying catt. With the latest interest cuts, I don't think we will see any action until the banks have taken the drop in December.

[Hejwitch_uk]

Haven't been on for a few weeks, as I got so low with none of the viewers making offers, and thinking dark thoughts (as you do) about being here forever. Then out of the blue on Monday, all hell let loose. We received a written offer a further £5,000 less than asking price, and we snatched the buyers' hand off! Sale on his house not totally completed yet, so offer subject to that and a survey (plus an energy survey!?!) and they want to move in on January 12th!!! Cutting it fine with my notice to work, sorting accommodation etc, but took the plunge and booked flights with AirNZ for the 12th Jan:D. Packers can deal with dates etc no problem, but with Xmas and new year taken into account, it doesn't leave much time for organisation!! Just keeping everything crossed that it all goes through.

[thewoodies]

Haven't been on for a few weeks, as I got so low with none of the viewers making offers, and thinking dark thoughts (as you do) about being here forever. Then out of the blue on Monday, all hell let loose. We received a written offer a further £5,000 less than asking price, and we snatched the buyers' hand off! Sale on his house not totally completed yet, so offer subject to that and a survey (plus an energy survey!?!) and they want to move in on January 12th!!! Cutting it fine with my notice to work, sorting accommodation etc, but took the plunge and booked flights with AirNZ for the 12th Jan:D. Packers can deal with dates etc no problem, but with Xmas and new year taken into account, it doesn't leave much time for organisation!! Just keeping everything crossed that it all goes through.

:bluebanana:bluebanana:bluebanana yeah at last - ours is a race who wants to buy or let ours first

[victoria24]

go woodies! on the good news side, location, location the other night was a good piece of positive programming from some respected property types

[walshy]

Has anyone considered taking a bit of equity out here and getting a larger than planned New Zealand mortgage while waiting for uk property to sell?

We would really like to buy there asap as i think it will help us settle, plus nz prices are going to recover before uk.

I wonder if New Zealand are still doing 95% mortgages?

[victoria24]

Has anyone considered taking a bit of equity out here and getting a larger than planned New Zealand mortgage while waiting for uk property to sell?

We would really like to buy there asap as i think it will help us settle, plus nz prices are going to recover before uk.

I wonder if New Zealand are still doing 95% mortgages?

https://www.westpac.co.nz/olcontent/olcontent.nsf/content/Your+Westpac+mortgage

so yes, they are doing 95's. if you want to take equity approach your current lender for a further advance as these tend to be on the svr with no redemption penalties rather than a remo or 2nd charge.

[walshy]

Very interesting, done the further advance already.

Maybe I will be buying straight away then!!

[IanR]

......... plus nz prices are going to recover before uk.



Really? House prices here are even more unaffordable, for the average worker, than those in the UK...

[walshy]

Really? House prices here are even more unaffordable, for the average worker, than those in the UK...I think so, might be wrong, if we land and its still dropping fair enough, but to know we could buy if it starts picking up without worrying about this one is nice to know, especially as i have trackers at the moment and so have to very low mortgages which are likely to get lower

[macuser]

OMG Hejwitch, fantastic news. There's still hope for us all then?

I get like you, all dark and depressed and right now is particularly bad as we'd really expected to be spending our first Christmas in NZ this year.

Great news, Hejwitch.

Helen

[Andy-Dee]

Haven't been on for a few weeks, as I got so low with none of the viewers making offers, and thinking dark thoughts (as you do) about being here forever. Then out of the blue on Monday, all hell let loose. We received a written offer a further £5,000 less than asking price, and we snatched the buyers' hand off! Sale on his house not totally completed yet, so offer subject to that and a survey (plus an energy survey!?!) and they want to move in on January 12th!!! Cutting it fine with my notice to work, sorting accommodation etc, but took the plunge and booked flights with AirNZ for the 12th Jan:D. Packers can deal with dates etc no problem, but with Xmas and new year taken into account, it doesn't leave much time for organisation!! Just keeping everything crossed that it all goes through.

YEAH YEAH YEAH - really pleased for you :clap

[lindreth]

Awesome news Hejwitch. Congrats. :cheers
Just remember folks it only takes one, and you never know when they will come knocking at your door!

[andrewp]

Congrate Hejwitch. :cheers

Just remember folks it only takes one, and you never know when they will come knocking at your door!

That's what we keep telling ourselves!