The house I'm currently living in has sold 🏠 Various things about the UK real estate market...

When we put the house on the market two and a half years ago, the timing was bad, and although we found a buyer, they were eccentric and made unreasonable demands, leading to endless trouble and the deal falling through...

But it was for the best that it didn't sell back then.

The asking price at the time (2020) was 430,000 pounds, which is about 78 million yen (calculated at 1 pound = 181.40 yen).

This time, in order to move into the bungalow (single-story house) currently under renovation and cover those costs, we decided to sell the house we are living in again...

While I was back in Japan from mid-May to mid-July, David handled dozens of house viewings, and it really looked tough for him.

However, in June, the government announced an increase in mortgage interest rates💦
Requests for viewings stopped abruptly, and it felt like the house would never sell.

A 5-year interest rate of 6.5% is just😅

The same thing happened temporarily last year when the interest rate policy of the female Prime Minister Liz Truss, who resigned shortly after, failed miserably, and in June, people started holding back on buying homes again~💦

There are many 'FOR SALE' signs in our neighborhood too, but
I hardly ever see any 'SOLD' signs😭

The bungalow renovation costs also piled up after we were repeatedly taken advantage of by unscrupulous contractors, and at one point, David's savings account was down to only about 200,000 yen...

I talked about the situation at that time on Instagram Live, so if you're interested, please check it out below.

Just when we were at our wit's end, a few days later, we got a call from the real estate agent:

'Your house has sold~'

they said...

Our target selling price this time was 465,000 pounds (about 84.32 million yen), but we were talked down to 450,000 pounds (about 81.57 million yen)😅

Even so, it sold for 20,000 pounds (about 3.62 million yen) more than it would have two and a half years ago, so we are absolutely thrilled💕

It is a common belief that house prices in the UK only go up and never go down🇬🇧
It's a huge difference from Japan, where house prices drop as they get older!

Last week, I met the couple in their 30s who came for their third viewing of the house✨
When I asked them why they decided to buy it...

They said, "We liked how well-maintained this house is, as well as the interior and decor."
That's what they said.

The house next door, which hasn't been able to sell for a long time, is now empty after the 90-year-old man who lived there passed away.

I feel like a house loses its luster when no one lives in it.

Every week while cleaning, as I polish the floors with a damp cloth,

"Please be well-loved by the next person who comes here~"

I talk to the floor, and my husband and I are tidying up the house so we can pass it on to the next person in the best possible condition🏠

Even though it was the house where David's ex-wife lived, this house has really taken good care of us.

I'm relieved that a kind, cat-loving couple bought the house this time.

They've agreed to contact us if Talib accidentally comes back here🍀

Also, the fact that these owners are "first-time homebuyers" is a huge advantage this time🌈

Actually, a few months ago, we had a buyer lined up, but the house they were living in didn't sell, and the deal fell through in the end.

This morning, David signed the final contract that arrived from the real estate agency✨

We've gathered the necessary documents and listed the bank account for the 4.5 million pound transfer; now we just have to pray that the couple's mortgage application goes through successfully🤗

It's still undecided when we'll move out of this house, but even if the bungalow renovation isn't finished, I suppose we'll have to leave within three months~😅

I don't feel like it's going to be finished at all💦

The roof has somehow been covered, but...

The other parts haven't progressed at all💦

Bathroom

Kitchen

Bungalow seen from the garden

If we don't finish by the move-out deadline, we might have to rent a house somewhere to live, but...

My spouse and I will do our best to tackle this 🤣