John Doe

If the world is serious about future energy provision, assuming they are really worried by global warming (whether it is man-made or not) or, more likely perhaps, peak oil etc, then, for the moment, fission is the only realistic choice. As such, the number of countries that will end up doing the same will, likely, increase.

Yep, it's the same where we are (proper family houses, you know, with gardens too, in a great area, great schools, park, loch etc), the yield is about 3%. If you could rent one here (they just don’t seem to rent them out at all) money wise, you’d be better off than buying. In town (W.End) the yield is about 6 to 7%, slightly more near to the "less nice" parts of the W.End, which are still quite OK). Different market totally. Seriously considered getting two flats in the WEnd, renting them out and renting a nice place by us. Trouble is, as said, they just never seem to come up for rent by us.

Yep, my little-un had lived in 5 different properties by the age of 3 (& 1/3 ). (Not that it bothered her at that time mind you). Ended up going back into the market 2009 after our latest landlord decided to sell the property we were in (had 2 months to move) and we found a great place at a great price. In hindsight, it was all for the best, our house is great, and easily affordable, and we've made it exactly as we wanted. Had the tenancy laws been different in the UK, and we could have decorated and altered gardens etc as we wished, who knows? I'm sure there is a good chance that we would still be renting.

Depends if you are looking for an investment or a home

We can but hope. I remember Brown promising "I will not let house prices get out of control!" That was 1997 .

I always found Archer quite bearish (for 2009 he forcast 20% falls, for 2010-2011 he forecast 10% down) so he's been relatively good compared to many. Yeah, whenever I say it (I try hard not to), I get the urge to spit

Halifax 0.6% up on the month, down 0.9% on the quarter. http://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/house-prices-remain-weak-despite-094005861.html

AFAIR, Bubble Pricker did a thread on something similar to this many years back. I think he even set up a fund to buy property in Germany for BTL.

Don't know, but I can't see why not? Slightly different was the Eastern Europeans that took mortgages out in Swiss francs. For example, loads of Hungarians took out mortgages in swiss francs. Of course, the swiss franc has risen massively against the forint since. However, the Hungarian government recently decided to give these mortgage holders a reprieve, essentially allowing them to pay off these at the exchange rate at which they were taken out, which hasn't gone down well with the ECB. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a3875322-0a27-11e1-92b5-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1lV7MWqxy

yep, and then in the spring they say, "what, you want to pay more than the market price? OK, we'll seasonally adjust" March or May sounds about right.

But only -0.2% SA and very regional (as always). The North East hammered again. I thought your model predicted a small bounce early 2012? I think prices will probably go slightly positive over the next few months. More mortgages (including the 95% LTV back), less fear about EURO, end of stamp duty holiday etc etc. Course it wont last, but could be called a little spring bounce.

I expect they were bought up in several large portfolios. Each freehold receives a ground rent from the leaseholder, plus a renewal fee each time the (usual) 99 year term is up. Guess they took loans out against this, then spent all the cash, but from the sound of it, it seems they spent it well (some wild parties by all accounts ). How the other half live eh?

Whoa, the 95% mortgage is back with avengance http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2012/jan/27/first-time-buyers-mortage-back Here's a list of several more too http://www.money.co.uk/mortgages/95-mortgages.htm

I think it's just the freeholds that are for sale, not the actual properties. (Av £12k each)

Ah right, nah I was talking about Glasgow. I don't know Guilford, what's it like?

£800,000 to £500,000 ? I didn't know there were any properties that expensive in glasgow (Which graph?)

And Glasgow? http://www.home.co.uk/guides/asking_prices_report.htm?location=glasgow&startmonth=10&startyear=2007&endmonth=01&endyear=2012 I guess the answer to BaB's question is because the nice areas (and looking at the data, nice properties) are doing OK. The not so nice, which rose the most 1996 to 2007, are not.

All true, but it has never been much lower than that, there have always been 100's of thousands taking short loans like that, and several million with no savings, even in the, so-called, good times. Also note a lot of them take the loans for rent, and before payday loans arrived, it used to be the man from the pru or other "legal" sharks calling door to door (I remember them well myself) or even worse, the illegal sharks.

True, but I'm not sure if the market always overshoots as expected. For example, the low in 96 wasn't as low as the previous low (looks ~ 20% just going back to 1983). If you go back in time (on the graphs) you usually see lower lows and lower highs, even in inflation adjusted terms. You also have to take into account changes in demographics and the social make up (double income households, lack of new houses, massive population growth etc) and a host of other issues that, even the most bearish agree, have had an effect over the decades. For all we know, it could turn out that it's near overshot now (unlikely yes, yet it is possible). Baring a serious crisis, like Van mentions, I would be wary of hoping for an overshoot to the previous low.

I would say it was generally agreed that prices were very cheap in 1996 (they certainly were where I was at the time). That graph would suggest we are within 10-20% of fair value. Flat nominal prices and inflation of a few % for a few years could make that a reality.

Some nice charts from FT on HPC http://www.housepricecrash.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=152362&view=findpost&p=3235410 Well worth a look.

Even cheaper 5 year fixes here http://www.moneysupermarket.com/mortgages/ 3.29% with 30% deposit 3.39% with 25% deposit I had thought they had risen recently, perhaps just the NW etc

Perhaps, when HS2 is finished

Ah, but I meant from London being the new (out of china) centre for remimbi trading, not hot money. (See the link) People always write of the UK too soon. In time, maybe , but it's not done just yet.

Nah, they'll just move to the new China Forex Trading Centre, coming to London real soon http://www.dailymail...h.html?ITO=1490 And Kensignton and Chealsea asking prices down 1.7% , woowee, that takes the average to a bargain..... £1,956,710! think I'll grab a couple (See they are up 6% on the year though , still, better than a saving account )