John Doe

Oh, and the previous months -0.3%MoM drop has been revised up to -0.1%. Not exactly crash cruise speed.

Roll up, roll up. Grab them houses quick, demand at levels "not seen in over four years"! http://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/Property-demand-reaches-four-tele-2309634405.html?x=0

It meant you could get the job, didn't it

Talking of house prices....... Land Reg Sept report out* http://www1.landregistry.gov.uk/upload/documents/HPI_Report_Sep_11_sb5ar16.pdf Looking closer, the "less-nice" areas seem to be down a lot, while nice areas have held up quite well (as expected). *(Usual 3 to 4 month delay in data)

Ahhhh, Jodie Foster

Just what the Dr markets ordered, the "bazooka" option!. EU rescue fund to be increased "several fold". FTSE 6000 by xmas? Get them assets quick guys Euro Bailout Fund 'To Be Boosted Several Fold' Of course, you do realise that if they actually do this, along with the recap of the banks and ~50% haircut for Greece, that pretty much means the crisis is over (well for a few months to a year at least ).

Might as well. There's no point worrying about it, you'll just stress yourself into an early grave. It will all probably rumble on for several years and turn out just the same as before. If not, there's not too much you can do about it anyway. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bNE-5TVAmg

Not sure he meant it that way, (the comparisons we have discussed here previously do take the deposit into account in the calculations). If he did, then I agree, that's daft. Think he more meant that it is really difficult to save the 25% deposit in the first place, especially when people are paying higher rents. As such, it’s a bit silly not allowing people, that can obviously afford to pay a monthly mortgage payment that would be LESS than their monthly rental payments, to buy a place, where it is cheaper for them to do so. However, you would have to insure against the potential fall in prices (and negative equity) if near 100% loans were to make a comeback, or hold the lender responsible so that they’d be a bit more careful who they gave them to.

Rents up, again. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15384791

Because, as you point out, there are many that haven't felt (or won't feel) any effects of the recession. To them, life goes on as normal, blissfully unaware of what's happening to others. Some of my in-laws, for example, didn't feel any effects of the late 80's early 90's downturn (living in the country), whereas I and many friends in my home city suffered the full effects at that time. Lead to a few heated debates when I first met them, they just had no idea of what had happened

Yep, that is a personal catastrophe.

Have to say you're right, it's not the end of the world and I can see your points BaB. Some of the younger folk here maybe don't realise that there have always been big problems, there have always been big debts (e.g. after the 2nd world war the UK owed s**tloads, and only paid the last bit off recently), but that didn't stop the expansion of the 50s and 60s. The late 70's and 80s seemed far worse to me than what is happening at the moment, the country practically ripped itself apart during the miners strikes etc and I'm certain the 40's were way worse than that (i.e. world war, bombs dropping on your house, firestorms that decimated my home town etc). So looking at it like that does put it in perspective. I mean, we aren't going to starve. And the PTB can, as you point out, just make some more money, or use debt jubilee or many other “emergency” measures should TSHTF. However, that said, I think things could get worse before they get better and for the guy who has lost his job and house and savings (and sometimes family from the stress etc) it’s going to feel pretty s**t. There is also the danger that if some of the problems now aren’t dealt with correctly, it could result in wars down the road like after the depression.

I know what you mean. So in the interests of balance, here is some good news (well, sort of, from Bellway) http://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/Bellway-raises-dividend-30pc-tele-410851075.html?x=0

There's a lot of truth in that BaB, but the press will always go for the big problem story and blow it up to get more watchers. However, part of the problem this time has been the politicians, who have also been talking the economy down in order to get their austerity budgets through without the population shouting too much against it. Problem is, this affects confidence, this is exacerbated by the media, then the consumer stops spending and the markets start acting like the end of the world as it becomes self fulfilling. Then it's back to the politicians to come up with bigger solutions in order to sort it out. Talk about vicious circles Also, things might be OK at the moment where you are, but it aint so good here .

I always assumed everyone knew it was wage inflation that had this effect? I suppose some might look at property as a hedge in high inflationary times, just as they look at other commodities? Wage inflation currently at 2.8% average in the UK at present. 10 year fix rate mortgage at 4% results in a >30% discount over the ten years, even with these paltry wage increases. That would cover a rather large fall in house prices, would it not?

I think you might be right. I just never gave them that much credit (No pun intended) before

Oh I don't know. While mortgage rates are indeed cheap as chips, it's the lack of growth, increase in unemployment and the continuing deterioration in the interbank lending that is starting to concern me. Like it or not, people are getting scared, and this time, it is directly attributable to the dithering politicians. The EU problems are scaring the rest of the world into holding back investment and spending as confidence is eroded. It's afffected growth in the EU and here. Once they get their act together (which I think they can, if they try), the slow grind out of this mess can continue again. At the moment though, the already slow recovery is slowing dangerously.

This is getting silly. Even I am getting more bearish at the moment. I think the continuing deterioration in world money markets might just tip the whole thing into a new global depression, if the politicians don't pull their fingers out soon.

Really?, That must have been 20th June 2003. We remember that dry day and celebrate it each year. Also the day that the temperature went over 20 deg C is celebrated. Joking apart, TBH, it's pretty grey and wet most of the time, but when the sun does come out, it's (including the highlands) one of the best places I know.

Yeah, any good starting points would be great! That's nothing, see how desperate I am (zero minutes!) Sent via my neutrino phone at 4:48

I'm guessing you don't live near us (in Glasgow)?

Yep, really depends where you are (and what the weathers like). There are some fantastic places in the UK, (and some dumps). One of my colleagues retired last year and instead of a round the world trip, he went all around the UK. Found some great places, one of which (Bradford on Avon) we visited after he told us about it. Lovely place, canal, river etc with fascinating history to boot.

Don't worry all, the master plan is starting to work http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15287582

Just to cheer everyone up.... http://www.lse.co.uk/FinanceNews.asp?ArticleCode=p1um4oqscc05f9u&ArticleHeadline=UK_house_prices_up_06_pct_mm_in_Aug__DCLG