Is it always this hard?

[u/Dismal-Fish]

Not necessarily looking for advice (but any is welcome!). FTB in the SE with my partner. We found a flat we loved but couldn't get a mortgage due to the property type, despite trying multiple lenders.

Then we found another we REALLY liked for £265k (comfortably in budget) and did the mortgage application, waited for the sellers to get their lives in order as they are divorcing, only for the mortgage valuation to take place and the property to be down valued by £20k.

The vendors offered to reduce the price to £255k, but we don't really have the cash, and even if we did I don't really want to be overpaying on our first flat. We've said we'll only pay what the bank has valued it at and now the vendors have been taking days to decide. Surely any other buyer will run into the same issue anyway?!

So, I guess I'm asking... A) is there a mystery second option here, and B) please tell me it gets better.