It’s been almost four years since I last wrote in my journal. Today, I felt compelled to do so, as I’ve never been more overwhelmed than I am right now. The last time I wrote in my journal was back in 2020, during the COVID lockdowns in Singapore. Those days are vivid in my memory; I constantly questioned what I was doing with my life. At first, moving abroad was an exciting adventure. But after a year, I realized that while I loved life overseas, I hadn’t figured out a way to settle permanently without the constant stress of visa extensions.
Things changed when I moved to London in March 2021. I arrived with a clear path to permanent settlement in the UK, and since then, things have been mostly positive. I’ve had the chance to explore Britain and Europe, found a job I truly enjoy at a startup with an incredible culture, made new friends, and even invited my parents to visit us in London. Earlier this year, I made an offer on a house in Milton Keynes. The process, however, has been far from smooth.
Our solicitor, who has been handling the property transaction, has been slow to respond and quite difficult to communicate with. They often seem to lack empathy and don't understand the emotional weight of buying your first home. As a first-time buyer, I’ve had several questions, and while I appreciate that they’re busy, I’ve found their selective communication frustrating. They rarely answer phone calls, only respond to emails intermittently, and get irritated when asked for clarification. Thankfully, the seller has been incredibly patient and understanding, which has helped me stay calm through this process.
Today, after a particularly stressful phone call with the solicitor, I transferred a £50,000 deposit for the house we’re purchasing. This is a significant amount of money, and it was a bit nerve-wracking to send such a large sum, especially to a solicitor I’ve never met in person, who lives 200 miles away. But I did it because this is the final step toward acquiring our dream home, and I’m genuinely excited to take possession of it soon.
However, later in the evening, the seller informed me that they were unable to obtain a redemption statement from their current lender. This means we won’t be able to exchange contracts until they receive the statement, which could take up to a month. Suddenly, the process felt like it was dragging on forever, and I began to worry if I’d transferred the money too early. I’m also anxious about having to overlap mortgage and rent payments for a while.
I’ve always felt that the seller has been more focused on their own needs, and we’ve been the ones making all the compromises regarding the completion date. As the buyer, I don’t have much leverage to negotiate terms, and that’s been a bit frustrating.
After talking with my wife, I felt a little better. I just hope everything comes together smoothly from here.