John Doe

Possibly. Maybe also the ability to extend (or even rebuild as we have essentially done). Also, I think flats in England are leasehold (also have service charges a lot of the time). As for rentals, the king and queen of BTL (the Wilsons , the ex maths teachers) always suggested small houses (2 or 3 bed semi/terrace AFAIR) but in the right location, were the best for yield etc. You can see that here also. Small places like this up the road, but still in the good catchment areas etc, would give a yeild closer to 5%, where the big detached 5 bed places would give ~3%.

Sounds a good move. I was speaking with an EA from our area today (discussing a possible extension etc). He said the nice family houses by us rented for ~3% of their sale price. Meanwhile, back in the west end, the flats rent for about 5 or 6%

Wow! http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/oct/09/housing-market-prices-mortgages-recession Might just have to look into becoming an EA after all

+ VAT rises dropping out.

Fantastic

Probably yes, as this was all expected (and priced in), and now there is another £75,000,000,000.00 to push up bond prices yet again (higher bond prices = lower IR's). Or anyone else for that matter

Officially? Well, ~2% GDP growth, higher bond prices = lower rates (lowest in history on gov bonds right now), lower mortgage rates (best fixed rates ever at present, likely to get slightly better than that now too), less repo's = floor on prices, lower pound (better for our exporters, yes we have a few good ones left, RR, JCB etc etc), a nice sunny October (warmest so far) and a nice big bonus for the bankers Unofficially, not much except for the last one

Think King and the gang are worried about more than just house prices. http://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/Fears-UK-Is-In-Worst-Ever-skynews-4005630554.html?x=0 Nice of them to finally catch up and realise what many (esp here) have been saying for years. Owning a house outright might just be a great hedge. So could having a long term fixed rate mortgage. Especially if (when) we get to the great debt jubilee! Along with the confiscation of gold

And everyone else disagreed, because they know things are worse than he thought. He’s always been out there on his own.

Wow, they've done it already! QE2 (or 3 including the stealth bond buying by our "nationalised" banks, that's been going on for the last year) is here. £75B to start with. http://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/Bank-launches-QE2-75-billion-reuters_molt-1529205810.html?x=0 Grab your assets quick

Could you elaborate? There are also a fair few other benefits too (esp in the UK with it's crap tennant rights). However, it's true that if you have money, it makes a lot more sense than if your are struggling. Money is currently very cheap, if you have money. Not so if you dont. This is another reason for the good houses in good areas staying highly priced, while the rest are struggling.

A rather questionable example (from the traditionally bearish moneyweek) looking at a first time buyer (20% deposit) with mortgage rising to 5% in 2 years etc (when they can fix for 5 better than that now, and possibly lower in the coming months as twist UK QE2 (unoficial3) arrives) and also assuming prices being down on todays in 5 years time. Lots of ifs and buts for a "fair" comparison is it not? Besides, according to his post Tallim has a much bigger than 20% deposit (so he can fix for 10 years at less than 5% and 5 years for less than 3.7%). Blows money weeks figures out of the water. Of course, that said, only a mutton head would buy now PS as much as I like moneyweek and the author of that piece (Merryn SW), what was it she did just a little while back? Oh yes, that's right, she bought a house! Put your money(week) where you mouth is

Us? enjoy arguing? Sir you slight our reputation Besides, it not arguing, it's debating and discussion I can’t help it if he is close minded (and wrong) Some are really great, some not so (but still good), but I can't tell you which I prefer (5 books in now) as it is quite subjective and others tell me they prefer the ones I would rank lower.

Link here http://www.greenenergyinvestors.com/index.php?showforum=37 I have discoved that the vast majority of things here are drivel and nonsence However, far more interesting are the sci fi novels of Iian M Banks http://www.vavatch.co.uk/books/banks/ Great stuff.

Never mind Tallim, might as well take the Nationwide’s money while they are still solvent. After all, latest figures show there's been a better time to buy http://www.independent.co.uk/money/mortgages/ignore-the-doomsayers-first-timers-its-easier-than-you-think-2364222.html

Yep, I mentioned a few weeks back that they offered me a huge multiple too. I was quite surprised too. Also, how can they (small mutual) manage to offer decent mortgage rates even though they do not have an investment arm? Isn't that the big argument from the Big Wan... I mean Bankers, that they couldn't offer us cheap loans without their casino operations?

Indeed. "You can fool all of the people some of the time, and some of the people all of the time" Anon. One born every minute

Really? How on earth did you come up with that conclusion? Can you read minds now too? Actually I love exploring the fringe, as I love science fiction. All I have ever said is that there is a big difference between science, philosophy and mumbo jumbo, and that those pedalling mumbo jumbo as science are charlatans and snake oil salesmen. Yet you STILL can't see that and you STILL continue with the personal slights and insults, even attacking science itself! Nonsense. That once again demonstrates a woeful misunderstanding of science and scientists. As a scientist, one of the first things you are taught to check things for yourself. As for being safe with science or the fringe, that's a whole different question. The FACT that things are repeatable and testable lets one put their trust in science safely. Fringe requires a leap of faith, does it not? Is that "safe"? For example, would you believe the doctor using the MRI scanner invented by scientists, or perhaps the old lady with tarot cards that tells you she knows better? Would you risk your life making that decision? Really? Tell the truth now Dr B .

Nice succient and elegant as always RH . While I freely admit that I am never going to be able to put things as eloquently as you, I will attempt to respond as best I can. As you know, science was born from philosophy and it still plays a great part (many science departments were originally philosophy departments). Both are built upon reasoning and many scientific theories arise through philosophy. However, science looks to quantify this reasoning, whereas philosophy tends more to qualify the reasoning and (moreover nowadays) the implications arising from the discoveries of science. As in many things, the pupil becomes the teacher, but that’s not to say that each cannot still learn from one another. As such, using the universal language of mathematics, it could be argued that science can be thought to be science of the universe, rather than science of humans (which, I would have thought, would, due to its more subjective approach and being a purely human construct, better describe philosophy?) I would counter that this is rather a view perpetuated by a small number of self publicist ego driven “soft” scientists, and the media that courts them, rather than those “at the coal face” so to speak. A great example of the latter is the scientist that recently asked the world for help in understanding their strange results with neutrinos (rather than grand-standing an uncertain result, as others might have done). Hardly the actions of a cult. OK, you're stating to lose me here (I'm more a numbers sort of guy), but I would add that perhaps it could be thought of as the scientific imagination (through the same thought processes involved in philosophical thinking) constructs testable models to provide a quantitative description of the reality it finds itself in, from which new technologies can be constructed to investigate further and deeper into this reality. Either way, there is philosophy, there is science, and then there is Dr B’s fringe section

But Dr B, your still missing the point, that's not our job. We are not the ones asking people to believe this stuff (and buy his book). As you know, it is impossible to disprove almost anything, no matter how ridiculous it sounds. For example, you cannot prove that there isn't an eight legged spaghetti monster living on the far side of Jupiter. The onus is on the person trying to put forward the theories that they are calling scientific. Surely with your "open mind" and living in your greenhouse , you can see this? Talking of evidence, I also note you appear to have, conveniently, avoided the post I made earlier in response to you accusing me of having a closed mind and then of not offering any evidence to the contrary. Just in case you missed it, I repeat it here Or are you the one that chooses not to see evidence when it doesn't fit with your view perhaps?

How you can say this when I have on several occasions now pointed out that I relish the thought that Einstein may be superseded is beyond comprehension. One of the cornerstones of modern physics, and I am happy to accept that it might (just might) be wrong, yet you ask me for evidence that I am not close minded! It appears you are fooling yourself. Read my posts properly, otherwise there is really no point continuing this discussion.

It's a nice thought.

Again, you are STILL not reading my posts and are STILL missing the point. So perhaps if I put it in capitals ALWAYS KEEP AN OPEN MIND, BUT NEVER STOP QUESTIONING How can any part of that be called closed minded? I hope each day that something new (like a new reality) will appear, so that we can learn about it.

Obviously not that unintended What are you on (abaout)? Talk about missing the point. You really can't be reading my posts at all if that is what you think. So, I say again Keep an open mind, but never stop questioning, never just take someone’s word for it and keep demanding evidence As for the exceeding of the speed of light question, again I say.... Haven't you seen the excitment in the scientific community, just at the slim possibility that this may be real? Or has someone painted your greenhouse black to protect the fragile little things inside from "the light" Yet you still keep coming back accusing me (and others) of being close minded I think it is becoming increasingly clear that in fact it is you with the close mind, • closed to reality • closed to the FACT that others know more about certain subjects than you • closed to the FACT that science NEVER stops questioning Either that, or you are, to put it in your words Please Dr B, read the posts properly, with an open mind and not the preconceptions that you appear to have. You will find that there is actually more agreement than you currently think.

The new supply will be social housing. Probelm solved