Are you moving house?

Dolly17

Hi, I've just decided to move house this week. I own a modest 2 bed semi in a low value but reasonably popular area, so I think to move to my area of preference I'm looking at flats/appts. I have found a small ground floor 2 bed appt, with garden, near to the area I like and am itching to put in an offer as soon as mine is on the market.

My 2 grown up sons are urging caution, both feel nostalgic at my selling their childhood home, but want me to slow down and look at other properties. I know they will support me whatever I decide, but it's unsettled me.

At 62, am I too young to move I to what they call a "granny" flat? Luckily I don't have any health issues but who knows what the future holds? I like the idea of living on one level, with easy access to bathroom should I need it. Anyone else bought quickly after looking at one property? Any advice, regrets etc?

Dolly Unless you have the funds available without selling you really can’t make an offer until you have an offer yourself.

Hi Dolly, I think 62 is a really good age to move as it gives you time to develop a good social life which is critical for when you get older.
If you have seen somewhere you feel you could move to, in an area you like then don't be influenced by your children's sentimentality..
But as others have said you need to have an offer on your own house before you can make an offer on another property, so this one might not be a real possibility.. But you have seen the potential if this one isn't still available.. Go for it if you want a single level apartment.. there will be others..

Thanks, yes realistically the flat I've seen will be snapped up before I'm ready to make an offer. I haven't moved house for nearly 38 years and the whole process scares me if I'm honest.

Dolly, I moved across country at your age.. If you do it methodically it is possible.. I would get three Estate Agent valuations.. Then go with the one you feel you can trust. I personally don't go with the big ones.. Then wait til you get an offer from a sound buyer..
You can be looking on Rightmove.. I would also let the Estate Agents who are selling the flat you like know that you like it. They can keep you apprised if it falls through or of another one.. Very good luck

Dolly I think pascal is right it’s a good age to make new friends etc. I was talking to a lady dog walker I’m friendly with just this morning about my house move, she lost her husband recently and her daughter is trying to persuade her to move when she does but she says she’s too scared a bit like you but she is taking encouragement from our chats. It’s taken me 2+ yrs to get to the point of actually doing it.
There is lots of good advice and encouragement here.

Smileless2012

That's right Oopsadaisy, you're only a cash buyer if you have the money to complete a purchase without having to sell a property and/or obtain a mortgage.

Correct.

It seems that EA may reference people as cash buyers if they will have the money after selling, fixing, completing their house sale - not on an offer to purchase, just as something the EA keeps in mind.

Sago

Dolly17

Hi, I've just decided to move house this week. I own a modest 2 bed semi in a low value but reasonably popular area, so I think to move to my area of preference I'm looking at flats/appts. I have found a small ground floor 2 bed appt, with garden, near to the area I like and am itching to put in an offer as soon as mine is on the market.

My 2 grown up sons are urging caution, both feel nostalgic at my selling their childhood home, but want me to slow down and look at other properties. I know they will support me whatever I decide, but it's unsettled me.

At 62, am I too young to move I to what they call a "granny" flat? Luckily I don't have any health issues but who knows what the future holds? I like the idea of living on one level, with easy access to bathroom should I need it. Anyone else bought quickly after looking at one property? Any advice, regrets etc?

Dolly Unless you have the funds available without selling you really can’t make an offer until you have an offer yourself.

You can make an offer but other potential buyers may be in a better position and obviously would take preference over you.

Norah

Smileless2012

That's right Oopsadaisy, you're only a cash buyer if you have the money to complete a purchase without having to sell a property and/or obtain a mortgage.

Correct.

It seems that EA may reference people as cash buyers if they will have the money after selling, fixing, completing their house sale - not on an offer to purchase, just as something the EA keeps in mind.

We had a cash buyer for our last house. The offer was less than that of another couple who had made an offer but had not sold their own property.
We needed to move quickly so accepted the cash offer and found somewhere to rent while we house hunted in the new area.

Dolly17 I was 62 when I moved from the family house to a 3-bedroom terrace just for me. Good age, I was still working, and was able to do virtually all the changes I wanted for that house over the next few years from my salary. I was convinced, when I moved that this was going to be my 'forever' home. It was not, and 16 years later, I moved into my current flat.
However, that house move was still in the same are, just a mile away from family house, so I knew the area very well indeed.
If you are moving to entirely different area, have you researched it well.? Public transport, Doctors, hospitals, shops, libraries, theatres cinema, u3a, etc. etc.

Having looked at just one property, does not really give you any overview of what you might wish to move into Have you made a list of what is essential in any new property for you, with a second list as to what would be nice (is desirable), and a third list saying, good, but not essential.

Hae you checked out similar types of flats on Rightmove to see what you might be able to get. Assuming you are expecting to use your present house for the money to purchase how do you know how much you are likely to get on your sale - and do take on board the fact that moving/selling/buying is expensive and a large amount of what you get for the sale will be spent on things like Solicito5rs fees, Estate Agents fees, stamp duty (maybe), removal expenses, new furniture, curtains, carpet after the move, etc. etc.
It is not something to be rushed into, take your time, and plan well. And, until you have an offer on your current house, no good EA will accept an offer from you

Allira

Norah

Smileless2012

That's right Oopsadaisy, you're only a cash buyer if you have the money to complete a purchase without having to sell a property and/or obtain a mortgage.

Correct.

It seems that EA may reference people as cash buyers if they will have the money after selling, fixing, completing their house sale - not on an offer to purchase, just as something the EA keeps in mind.

We had a cash buyer for our last house. The offer was less than that of another couple who had made an offer but had not sold their own property.
We needed to move quickly so accepted the cash offer and found somewhere to rent while we house hunted in the new area.

That's the beauty of being a cash buyer, ime. Lower offers accepted.

Wish me luck two house viewings tomorrow.

Norah

Allira

Norah

Smileless2012

That's right Oopsadaisy, you're only a cash buyer if you have the money to complete a purchase without having to sell a property and/or obtain a mortgage.

Correct.

It seems that EA may reference people as cash buyers if they will have the money after selling, fixing, completing their house sale - not on an offer to purchase, just as something the EA keeps in mind.

We had a cash buyer for our last house. The offer was less than that of another couple who had made an offer but had not sold their own property.
We needed to move quickly so accepted the cash offer and found somewhere to rent while we house hunted in the new area.

That's the beauty of being a cash buyer, ime. Lower offers accepted.

It was right on the asking price but the other couple who needed to sell their own property offered more.

I'm wishing you luck tanith 🤞

DD came with me for a 2nd viewing and liked the house . She thinks it's overpriced but I know it will go like a hot cake due to its location.

I may make a note of interest or at
least phone the agent. The vendors said they had 6 viewings at the
weekend.

My house won't go on the market until April at the earliest so I shouldn't even be looking at properties yet, should I, except to see what's out there and what I'm up against.

Charleygirl5

tanith Wherever you fancy moving to, please make sure you are close to and have decent public transport. There will be a time when you can no longer drive.

Shops, GPs and dentists nearby, in my opinion, are essential.

My bugbear is the bus stop, although only 1/4 mile away, and it is a killer for me.

I agree with this, we have a bus stop a three minute walk away with buses to town every fifteen minutes, there is another bus stop five minutes away and a bus from that stop takes me to town, the train station, the neighboring town and local hospital. The bus route in the other direction takes me to the doctor and dentist although it is within walking distance. DH and I are both 82 this year, I have more or less given up driving, just the odd journey to keep my hand in, and our current car which is five years old will be our last one, DH is talking about selling it soon as our last insurance quote was over £700 and we don’t do enough mileage to justify the expense of a car, I have noticed he is not so confident driving as he used to be. We are also fortunate enough to have privilege travel on the train, we get several free journeys each year and lower cost travel after those have been used up.

We have been on the market for a year. with interest in the house but no second viewings.

In the last week we have had 4 second viewings and all want to buy the house and we have 4 people racing to get themselves proceedable in order to make an offer. I am not getting over excited. No offers yet. But I am reminded of what they say about buses. None come from hours then three arrive all at once. We had a friend who was unemployed for 2 years, despite endless applications and interviews - then got three really good job offers in a week.

Thanks Grammaretto I am seriously considering putting in an offer in on one of the houses today it really was just what i want. Perfect location only 7yrs old the vendors are going abroad so no onward chain. My house is now on the market. We shall see how it goes.

Exciting times tanith!
And M0nica, isn't it strange. I hope you get an offer soon. A year sounds too long to be waiting.

My DiLs mother's house was taking ages to sell but when she was
persuaded to find another estate agent it got much better. New photos
for a start. The house sold in no time and she's very happily settled in her new home.

The interest rate has come down again and Spring is on the way which is a more popular time of year for house hunting.

We have already changed agents. We did this last September, after 9 months with an agent we were not satisfied with.

But I do not blame the agent. last year the market round us and for our particular type of property - and also in the town we want to move to was as dead as a Dodo. One house may get lucky in a slowdown, but not every house. This year everything has woken up so 'sold' signs are going up in our area and where we hope to move to - but the house we had been watching for a year, where we had been the only person to show any interst is now under offer - and not to us.

You win some, you lose some.

I have a feeling there is going to be disappointments on my journey tooMOnica I have to learn to ‘roll with the punches’.

I have just started to make plans to move. I am also doing it alone and I am in my mid fifties. I am a widow already sadly. I live in a 4 bed 3 bath place and it's way to big. Now everyone has moved on it echos. Depending what my house is worth depends on where I move but it will be as close to DD as I can get

Good luck nanny2507 do come here and tell us about your journey or for advice from those who are further along, it’s a lonely path on your own.

Good luck nanny!

I am also downsizing on my own.
I phoned the solicitor yesterday who tells me I don't need a home report for a private sale but I need a surveyor and to agree a price.
He also reminded me that a home report has a shelf life of 2 to 3 months so not to be in a hurry to get one.
Costs were not mentioned. 🙄

I'm in Scotland and want to stay in my immediate area where I have friends. My 4 DC are far too scattered.

I don’t understand how an EA can put forward an offer from someone who doesn’t have an offer on their property.

We have only ever offered when we have had an offer ourselves or when purchasing a rental property we have had to show proof of funds before offering.

Sago I knew my house would sell quickly as has every other house in my location does, it went on the market yesterday and I have viewings for tomorrow and Saturday booked already. I assume the various agents know what they doing.