Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 (edited) I am currently in Wales - at The Celtic Manor, for those who know it. First time back in 9 years, the restaurant was rammed last night and it ain't cheap. I also went back to my alma mater in Swansea, boy has the housing landscape of that place changed in the last 15 or so years. Funny thing is, as TMT observes, the average Joe there has as little cash as he did 20 years ago, so where is all the money coming from? I also had a conspiratorial thought about the Wales situation. If it is true that most of the Welsh have a huge disdain for the English (and, based on my experience as an English student in Wales, that is an understatement) and if it is true that the majority of the population rely on the public purse for income, either via benefits or public sector employment, surely they are merely milking the (English-dominated and funded) system for all they can before it goes down and/or are helping to bring down that same (English) system from within? Yes, there's so much deep hostillity it can shock. Weird thing is many English people don't even notice what people are doing / saying about them, or perhaps it's easier to ignore it. My view is that Wales needs to grow up, and the only way we'll ever do that is by being cut free from Mother England. We need to be forced to stand on our own 2 feet. To be forced into independence. No more subsidies from Westminster thanks. Then we can make a go of it and start blaming ourselves rather than our neighbours. Edited March 16, 2011 by gruffydd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Knimbies who say No Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Yes, there's so much deep hostillity it can shock. Weird thing is many English people don't even notice what people are doing / saying about them, or perhaps it's easier to ignore it. My view is that Wales needs to grow up, and the only way we'll ever do that is by being cut free from Mother England. We need to be forced to stand on our own 2 feet. To be forced into independence. No more subsidies from Westminster thanks. Then we can make a go of it and start blaming ourselves rather than our neighbours. Scotland too. Thing is, they can't survive alone. As a Scot living in England, I've no idea why the English are not chomping at the bit to be shot of them both. At present they're just cash sinks, with little or no appreciation or benefit in return. The Scottish imposition of Uni fees on England via the Scottish Labour majority was an unforgivable act of partisan politics at its worst. I think independence would enhance both countries in the end, as you say it would force a maturing of thought. It's easy to be left wing when it's other people's money, especially those a grudge is borne against. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Masked Tulip Posted March 16, 2011 Author Share Posted March 16, 2011 Just spent an hour talking with a former banker for HSBC who gave up London, sold his house and bought one in Tenby, semi-retired, got bored and so he retrained as a gas engineer. Says most of his neighbours in Pembs are similar from London. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Masked Tulip Posted March 16, 2011 Author Share Posted March 16, 2011 I could do with a real fire now. The lovely warm day has just turned very cold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
200p Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 (edited) I STR'd in 2005 and am now trying to buy a detached family house in Lymington, Hampshire. As a cash buyer I thought it would be pretty straightforward. I asked the EA what percentage of detached houses went to cash buyers? She looked a bit surprised at the question, "virtually all of course". That rumour appears to be true. Get on the blower to Paul Jackson, he's a nice honest EA who works for pleasure rather than for the monetary element, I'm sure he'll keep his eyes peeled for you. Edited March 16, 2011 by Money Spinner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Number79 Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 http://www.gogwatch.com/2011/03/15/come-home-to-a-real-fire-%E2%80%93-buy-a-house-in-wales/ Just posted my tuppence in response to it. who are the cash buyers from outside of wales that are bumping prices up? I can understand it in devon and cornwall but with all due respect ( and I mean that even though I always ride you about being welch ) who would be doing this really? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Masked Tulip Posted March 16, 2011 Author Share Posted March 16, 2011 who are the cash buyers from outside of wales that are bumping prices up? I can understand it in devon and cornwall but with all due respect ( and I mean that even though I always ride you about being welch ) who would be doing this really? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tbatst2000 Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 I can understand it in devon and cornwall but with all due respect ( and I mean that even though I always ride you about being welch ) who would be doing this really? The Welsh coast is beautiful. Travel times from the South East aside, I can't see why anyone wanting a holiday home wouldn't go there by preference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Spart Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 . . .Welshmen (Traitors) . . . Would you care to clarify what you mean by that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saberu Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 It's not just in Wales though. Many of my friends back home in Lancashire say similar especially those further North towards the Lakes. Property was being snapped up by people jumping on the BTL wagon. 5 years ago renting a 2 bed house would be about £45 per week. It's more than double now yet the wages on average in Lancashire are about as low as anywhere in the UK. 90 a week for a 2 bed house is still nothing. In the South West you'd be paying 600-1000/ month just to rent a small apartment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver surfer Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 Yes, there's so much deep hostillity it can shock. Weird thing is many English people don't even notice what people are doing / saying about them, or perhaps it's easier to ignore it. My view is that Wales needs to grow up, and the only way we'll ever do that is by being cut free from Mother England. We need to be forced to stand on our own 2 feet. To be forced into independence. No more subsidies from Westminster thanks. Then we can make a go of it and start blaming ourselves rather than our neighbours. The ingenuity of whingeing knows no limits. A failed independent Welsh state would soon persuade itself that it wasn't their fault at all, and that England was still to blame. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monks Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 Anyone in the northwest who listens to local radio will be familiair with these guys: www.plascochholidayhomes.co.uk They have been desperately trying to offload units for as long as I can remember. Must have spent hundreds of thousands on radio advertising, and now they are appearing on TV. God help the poor saps who actually bought one off-plan in 2007 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swansea Estate Agent Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 90 a week for a 2 bed house is still nothing. In the South West you'd be paying 600-1000/ month just to rent a small apartment. The wages in the South West are typically much higher than they are in the North West. The £90 a week is not for a nice place, just an old fashioned mid-terrace 2 up 2 down type property with floral carpets and wood-chip wall paper. The kitchen is usually in the space under the stairs. Here in Swansea we do let small apartments on the Marina for around £550, but they have excellent views, furnished to a high standard. We also let 2 bed mid-terraced houses for £400 a month which are similar to the ones up North. Having said that many wages in Swansea are similar to those up North if you work in a factory or similar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
profitofdoom Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 It's not like Wales is densley populated - all they need to do is build more housing, then everybody is happy. Apart from the NIMBYs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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