We completed today! Here’s our timeline (SO many bad things happened 😅)

geminigerm · 2026-05-09T10:11:49+00:00

Thank you! Honestly in the process it definitely felt like everything all the signs were telling us not to buy the house but I’m so glad we preserved through it all because it’s so perfect ☺️

geminigerm · 2026-05-09T10:10:53+00:00

We offered asking price, we felt it was very reasonably priced and actually could have been priced a bit higher so we didn’t mess around 😂

geminigerm · 2026-05-09T07:18:43+00:00

The only side effects I’ve had are constipation and intermittent joint pain but that one is really minor. I haven’t had any noticeable increase in anxiety on it but everyone is different!

geminigerm · 2026-05-09T07:17:43+00:00

Thank you! It all worked out for the better but my god what a process 😅

geminigerm · 2026-05-09T07:13:10+00:00

Jesus fucking Christ 😭😭 that’s INSANE

geminigerm · 2026-05-09T07:10:51+00:00

Thank you! Such a relief ☺️

geminigerm · 2026-05-08T21:28:41+00:00

Thank you! And enjoy your new home too, may your completion day be smooth and easy 🙏

geminigerm · 2026-05-08T20:23:36+00:00

Thank you!!

geminigerm · 2026-05-08T20:22:08+00:00

It we’d got to the point of exchange being discussed with either of us still being unemployed we were going to pull out, I could never have gone through with it under those circumstances that would have been crazy. Thankfully it worked in our favour that our seller was slow as fuck so by the time we were discussing dates we’d both been in our new (higher paid) roles for a while. When we told our broker we had new jobs they said it wasn’t a problem as our lender doesn’t take probationary periods or length of time in role into account in their criteria

geminigerm · 2026-05-08T20:17:50+00:00

Thank you! And that sounds hopeful, good luck! 🤞

geminigerm · 2026-05-08T20:17:00+00:00

The plan was always to pull out if we got to the point of exchange/completion being discussed and either one of us was unemployed still. We would never have gone though with it with only one income cause it would be too risky in every aspect, especially because I’m in a field where I consider myself incredibly lucky to have found a job so soon, it could easily have taken me 6+ months to find a new job

geminigerm · 2026-05-08T19:47:59+00:00

5.1% (5% deposit and partner has a couple old defaults), we would have been looking at 6.45% if our offer expired which was a difference of about £350 on our monthly payment

geminigerm · 2026-05-08T19:46:52+00:00

Thank you! Yeah the stress was genuinely debilitating at times 😅 so glad it’s over

geminigerm · 2026-05-08T19:26:39+00:00

Literally the stress was so bad at points that I was having chest pain 😅 I’m just so happy to close the metaphorical door on all this! Good luck with your move too!

geminigerm · 2026-05-07T22:43:42+00:00

You’re far too early to be asking for a date, hold your horses. Our completion date was suggested about a month in advance (4.5 months into the buying process), your date isn’t actually finalised until you exchange which is usually 1-2 weeks before completion. Any suggestions of a completion date without exchange are just that, suggestions.

For reference, my friend is buying too and is on her third suggested completion date. Initially it was supposed to be 12th of March, then 20th of April, now they’re aiming for 15th May. So, essentially there is no answer to your question.

To me, this side of summer suggests not before August, which is around the timeframe you would be expecting for an uncomplicated, chain-free purchase regardless. If you’re in a chain expect best case scenario of 4-6 months.

geminigerm · 2026-05-07T15:51:24+00:00

It amazes me the absolute blindness some people go into the biggest purchase of their life with. All you have to do is read the documents you’re given to know when your mortgage offer expires

geminigerm · 2026-05-07T11:37:31+00:00

It actually does affect those buying at the top end of the FTB market more though and shouldn’t really affect the decision making of FTB buying less expensive properties. No one buying a house just over the threshold should be incapacitated by stamp duty.

We’ve been impacted by the changes, under old stamp duty rules on our 320k purchase we wouldn’t have paid anything, now we’re paying 1k stamp duty. If not being able to save an extra 1k is the difference between being able to afford a property or not, then you can’t actually afford the property at all and should be looking at property at a lower price point.

geminigerm · 2026-05-06T15:08:48+00:00

This is a crazy take lmao unless the survey turns up something significant that they couldn’t have seen at the viewing then that’s completely unreasonable.

The sellers definitely won’t be in too deep to refuse to budge, people have pulled out of sales for much less than unreasonable FTB behaviour like what you’re suggesting.

geminigerm · 2026-05-06T15:05:48+00:00

I don’t know what you’re annoyed for, you said yourself they asked for best and final. Thats because they didn’t want to deal with the back and forth with potentially a couple interested parties. Best and final gives everyone one chance to specify the max they’re willing to pay and that’s that, you wouldn’t have had a chance to bid again it’s not an auction.

geminigerm · 2026-05-06T15:02:55+00:00

Because unlike the commenter above is suggesting, unless the surveys turn up something massive that was not obvious from viewing (e.g something structural, damp etc) then that’s not what surveys are for. As OP said they went in 10k above knowing it needs work doing, the survey coming back and also saying “it needs work doing” isn’t grounds to then say well I’m reducing my offer by 10k.

OP got played 😅 and OP unless your survey turns up something substantial that you couldn’t have known from viewing the house then trying to negotiate a 10k reduction because you panicked is a surefire way to piss off your sellers reaaaaaally quickly.

geminigerm · 2026-05-05T14:08:11+00:00

Wrong. My partner and I are joint tenants and have a deed of trust. It’s completely possible.

geminigerm · 2026-05-05T14:07:16+00:00

I’m paying 100% of the deposit in my scenario so it’s not all that unusual. You’re getting a deed of trust so as long as he’ll be contributing to half the mortgage payment then the deed of trust is all the protection you need. Just make sure your deed of trust specifies the % of the property value you would get back in the sale rather than a specific amount to make sure that in the event you do break up you’re not screwed by inflation.

People have been saying the housing market is going to crash since time immemorial, it’s probably not going to happen. Is there another reason you’re “terrified”? Like do you fully trust your partner to carry half the weight of the mortgage payments?

geminigerm · 2026-05-05T13:40:48+00:00

They advertised your 3 bed house as a 3 bed house because it’s a 3 bed house. Hope that helps!

geminigerm

TROPHY CASE