Friends of my parents sold their house just over two years ago. They weren't happy with where they moved (renting overseas) and have just bought back their old house. It has been underpinned, re-wired, new roof, new kitchen and has been completed re-decorated and re-modernised. But wait for it. They paid 197,000 less then what they sold it for (nearly 25%). I know that they may have paid stamp duty and capital gains originally but still!