Not just Tulip, anyone in the Swansea area really

This place has gone for the asking price, cash buyer - as per the EA. It only came on the market on June 12th.

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/viewdetails-181...=3&tr_t=buy

I was going to have a shifty this weekend to see what it was like, and if it was still around early next year pop in an offer on it.

Any reason why it would shift so quickly, especially in the current climate. The current occupants have obviously cleared off quick, and taken half the kitchen with them by the looks.

I thought the price had been discounted a bit, as there are 4 beds in Sketty newish build on for £330k to £400k - still didn't think it would go that quickly though. The street in question though is in a pretty good location, between Brynmill and Singleton Parks. Still too expensive even for that price though ?

Take comfort in the fact that this is merely a temporary transfer of interest from one deluded, tasteless wannabee to another of the same species. (Shunny ,you clearly would have been the exception to this excoriating labelling).
The fix and fits have no doubt been sold from a car boot in Sketty, the units not being required in the current Swansea Housing Assoc. flat just down the road in Mt. Pleasant. (and nice they are too!). But I wonder what has happened to Mr. Wannabee's Audi ?
I don't believe this has gone for asking. In that state, if it's gone for cash it's with a significant discount . "Real world" pricing ... I'd suggest 250K.
I'll be back in S'x in a week to see the situation for myself, but interestingly, an agent I telephoned yesterday in Gloucester admitted to me,that in her opinion, the market still had a very long way to go. Don't even remotely contemplate buying until next year. Use the next 6 months only honing your hard-arsed negotiating skills.

It's very obviously a repossession, the clue is the untested gas supply. They never test the supply of anything in repossessions. You would probably find the the combi boiler has tape over it.

That's what it looked like to me on first glance, plus the fact it seems to be discounted compared to some of the others on the market at the moment. I don't know what the hell they've done to the kitchen though.

I had £250 - £275k in mind when I first saw it appear too (eben though it appears to have been discounted relative to other properties) - thought if it was still around into 2009 it might go for something like that. Didn't think it would go that quick though, especially when others in the area have been on the market for well over a year. I smell an EA insider deal here, if I'm honest.

Agents response was "we can take you round, but it's gone for cash and the asking price so you'd have to come in over that if you wanted it". Felt like they were trying it on.

You can't believe what the EA tells you, if the kitchen is unusable and the boiler plus other supplies are suspect then this would show up on the HIP. If the house is not presented for sale then it must be a repo. The property would be un-morgageable in this state, therefore: cash buyer, probably sold for about £250K. The EA in charge needs the sack! What on earth is that traffic cone in the drive doing in the spec picture. Shows complete comtempt. At the moment it is not registered as a sale so must be subject to contract. As soon as it goes through then we can see what it really sold for.

I was in the EAs who are marketing this very house just several days ago. They pointed this very house out to me as a property that if it is marketed at the right price goes straight away. They tried to sell it to me as a lovely house in a sought-after location but, heck, I just moved out of Brynmill. I know what it is like. I will be interested to know if this sale completes.

Like you, I too got a gut reaction of perhaps an EA or an associate sale hoping to pick it up and sell it on quickly to some unsuspecting person for a tidy profit. If that was the case - and I am not saying it is as I have no idea and am merely speculating - then I would suggest that it would only serve to show how much little understanding there is in the Swansea property circles of the gathering storm of the global credit crunch.

When the crunch hits Swansea I would personally expect a house like this to be about 175K tops. Don't underestimate how nasty it is going to get in Swansea - in a full blown recession it will be like the 1980s again with little work and virtually no money for things like houses, cars and holidays. I remember the 1980s in Swansea and they were dire and already global economic data is pointing back to the 1930s in DOW falls, etc. (The Dow fell this week in a way not seen since 1930 apparently and I think Ford's share price is back to 1958 prices.)

Yes, it does look like a reposession to me personally also which, in itself, is interesting is it not? Early days, early days!

Here is my view - from someone who lived several roads away from there for the last 41 years until 6 months ago and who played on that land as a kid when half of it was allotments and the other half was a lovely meadow with beautiful apple trees and horses. In other words, I know that area like the back of my hand and know all the scuttle-butt about the area.

1. I know of other people who live by there who have been going to the local Brynmill & Uplands Residents Associations meetings, as well as to the PACT meetings which is a Police & Community meeting but I have no idea what PACT stands for, and repeatedly asking the Police and local Councillors if they can do something about the noise, screams and abuse from bands of teenagers, who apparently come down from Townhill, and who get drunk in the park in the night. The park gates are left open and I think there were attempts to get the park gates locked so bad things have got - others said people climb over the railings anyhow, etc, etc.

In other words, a lot of stressed out home owners living around there.

I have sat in those resident meetings and listened to them describe the noise they endure coming from the park, the abuse they have suffered from drunken teenagers and the feeling of not actually feeling secure in their homes.

The two local bobbies - both good guys - and the community officers - also good girls and both very cute (I miss bumping into them) - who assist them have been doing their best but apparently getting little results - the old story of having to catch the buggers first.

Brynmill Park has just had between 1 and 2 million spent on taking it back to its Victorian elegance - well, that was the plan - and apparently within days of the bowls' hut being refurbished with a new expensive tiled roof the yobs were on there in the nights pulling the tiles off and smashing them onto the ground.

2. That whole estate was thought to be a desirable 'executive' area but both Brynmill Lane and Sketty Road have now become so noisy that it is virtually non-stop traffic through there from 7AM till 7PM and then moderately heavy traffic till about 10PMish in the evening. I have sat in the back gardens of several houses on that estate and the noise from those two nearby roads is deafening. I certainly never felt relaxed in those gardens and knew straight away that I could never buy there for that reason nor because I feel that you could not even have your windows open on a warm day or night - too much road noise.

The top of Brynmill Lane is very narrow and bendy also which means that traffic, using it as a rat run between Sketty Road and Mumbles Road, are constantly braking and accelerating at the bends. You can often hear the screech of brakes, the acceleration of engines and the honking of horns. You can hear these if you sit in Singleton Park, on the other side of the lane, by the stone circle and just listen. Goodness knows what it is like living in a house right door to the lane itself.

3. Re the above - I regularly walk and cycle along Sketty Road and the diesel/petrol fumes are a big worry. On days when there is no wind, or "no air" as my Mum used to say, the fumes just linger there. Not nice, not healthy IMPO.

4. 'Escape in the Park' or whatever it is called/other concerts and raves in Singleton Park.

I have heard of people - via the old Brynmill grapevine - who have sold up from that estate, and from houses on the opposite side of Sketty Road (the areas around Le Breos, Parc Wern, Glanmore Park Road, etc, and the other roads that come down onto and around Sketty Road) because they simply could not put up with the heavy bass BOOM BOOM BOOM of the rave music that many of the concerts in the park now have.

Don't forget, it is not just on the days of the concert but all the rehearshal days also and I hear it has been driving people nuts. Again, they can't open their windows, can't sit in their gardens and the bass sound permeates through their walls - there is no escape from it.

I understand that the Council is allowing more and more such concerts in Singleton Park. I used to live several roads away from the park and even though I had numerous physical buildings between my house and the park the BOOM BOOM BOOM was so annoying, even with my doors and windows closed, I used to have to simply get away from the area on such rave days.

5. On those rave days the area becomes madness. No doubt the majority of the people attending them are decent people but you see loads of drunken men and women, beer cans in their hands, walking drunkardly through the area. Of course, with that you get the shouting, the screaming, the abuse, the damage to cars and a tremendous amount of litter left strew around the area - cans, bottles, food wrappers, condoms, cigarette butts. No my idea of peaceful living.

You also see some very unsavoury types around on those days and you do genuinely fear that, amongst the thousands in the area and over-worked Police, it is ideal cover for house break-ins by scumbags.

Until you have experienced the above you cannot understand how truly awful and stressful it is.

Well, that is my view on the above. Frankly, if there was only one of the above reasons I would not consider buying a house in that area. But heck, this is all just my personal view from knowing the area inside out, having lived around there for over 40 years and experiencing what goes on.

Any questions?


6. Oops, forgot about this one.

About 6 or 7 years ago I was looking for somewhere to buy for my Mum and my self. As my Mum did not wish to move away from Brynmill/Sketty/Uplands areas I did actually consider one of the houses on this estate which, at the time, I think had an asking price of 178K.

My Mum and I made numerous visits to have a "good look". At the time the houses were still fairly newish and I had not yet fully understood the problems of the area nor had the now frequent raves in Singleton Park started. I hesitated about buying - thought the rooms were small in the house we looked at and was concerned by how close it was to Sketty Road - and eventually the house was purchased by someone else.

I was working away in Surrey one day when my then girlfriend texted me to tell me that there was a God after all. Apparently she had heard on the grapevine that there were structural problems with the house I had considered buying. Sure enough, on returning home I popped round to see the house surrounded by scaffolding, which remained there for many months whilst whatever work that was needed to be done was done.

Of course, that was just one specific house and is no way meaning that any other houses on that estate have any such problems.


Edit:

Looking at where this house is on the map in the link it looks like it would be far enough away from Brynmill Park not to experience the noise issues that I have mentioned. Nor is it close to Sketty Road. But it is very close to Brynmill Lane and Singleton Park if I am looking at the right bit on the map.

Tulip - thanks for your post, most informative (as always, I lurk-a-lot and don't post much but always keep an eye on what you put up here)

I'll be interested to see if it completes, but with a cash buyer (as per the EA) it should go through - I'm more interested in what it will go for. A probale repossession, as we all agree on, is interesting in itself as you say.

Also - do you really think there will be hits of 50% nominal, even in "desirable" areas of Swansea ? There was only a hit of 15-20% maximum across South Wales in the last crash, and I know we think this one will be more severe due to the size of the bubble and associated debt, but I was thinking more 30%-ish

That particular property does not back onto the small lane which most use for a short cut (those that do are incredibly noisy, as I can also bear witness to), but it is very close to Singleton Park. I expected there to be trouble around concert time there, but pretty quiet otherwise - surprising to hear of the hassle.

I have to go east on the M4 for work, so the Mumbles/Gower is a bit too much hassle for me, that's why I was looking in this sort of area. I could go out to the M4 (Penllergaer etc) but there is absolutely bugger all out there. Any other recommendations, or just get out of Swansea full-stop ?!!!!

Agents response was "we can take you round, but it's gone for cash and the asking price so you'd have to come in over that if you wanted it". Felt like they were trying it on.

This tells you all you need to know about the EA, Inexperienced!

bet he/she is about 16, If I where the the cash buyer who offered the asking price and I learned about this strategy I would immediately drop my offer! Then threaten to find out who the mortgagee in possession is (not difficult) and tell them why. In fact if I were you I might do the same thing anyway. Any bank knows that a bird in the hand trumps a bird in the bush!!! Banks want to get rid of repo's fast, they are just to much hassle.

As an aside, heard today of a 2 up 2 down in Sketty that was sold for 209K a few months back, just be sold for 154K.

Yes, I do think we will see 50% falls in Swansea.

This credit crunch is still in the very early days of what will most likely be several years of economic disaster. I doubt many people can fully comprehend that we are now entering into several years of recession, of huge downward pressures on the economy and, of course, on house prices. In a year's time people will say it can't get any worse.. but it will.

I remember Swansea and South Wales in the 1980s - 8 in 10 adult males unemployed. No point looking for work because there was none.

We now have levels of debt in the UK unseen before anywhere in the Modern World. Swansea has no Microsoft, no Banks, no nothing apart from Public Sector jobs, shop jobs and the DVLA. The City, IMPO, is going to be broke and hosue prices will plummet. The only question - and it is one I keep asking myself - is whether I wish to be here still when that happens. I am personally begining to weight up the pros of living near gorgeous beaches and the cons of living in Chav Town. I think it is only fear of the unknown that is stopping me getting an IT job with big corporate and travelling around Asia for a few years. I digress.

The M4 Penllergaer etc to Hendy area just came in the top 10 places of the noisiest places in Wales according to the Assembly - the roar from the motorway apaprently. It looks lovely and you get a lot more bang for buck down there re houses but what do you do of an evening - anything you wish to do involves getting in the car and travelling as far as I can tell. I considered down there but ruled it out.

Swansea is a City of two different halves. You have the 'townies' who are mainly on the East Side and, as far as I can tell, they are no different to Cardiff in that everything revolves around the City, Wind Street and the occasional rave. The West of Swansea seems to be full of people who are more outdoors in their interests and into thinks like cycling, walking, surfing, watersports and so on. I have learnt that you need to decide who you are and what lifestyle you wish before you even consider looking for a house in Swansea. I have started surfing and intend to be more leisure focused so Swansea West is for me. Then again, for my STR fund I can pick up lovely homes in Miami, New England and California ;-)

Tulip, I have a friend I've known for 30 years. A bright guy , popular , unaffected and a Morriston boy born and bred. Adored his football, the beer, the surfing , the Valbonne scene ( I know showing my age again!)and I never thought he would leave S'x......he never thought he would leave S'x.
Then he spent 3 months working in the West Indies on secondment and he realized there was a big bad world out there and moreover he could live in it too, if he wanted.
He's actually spent the last 20 years living in S'pore and he laughs when I ask if he will ever return to S'x to live . He has moved on.
You already know, this financial imbroglio is a work in progress with far to go ; things will seriously deteriorate in places like S'x . With no quality work to speak of, many over-extended aspirant types about to finally face reality and increasing social polarisation things will turn ugly. What's that book called, "Feel the fear and do it anyway", and YOU have nothing to lose. At the end of the day, where's the joy in owning a fabulous house surrounded by a shit hole, where you live in constant fear of burlary, or serious assault ?

Tulip/Gus,

I think you need to get out more.

Swansea is no different to other coastal towns, like say Portsmouth, Southampton, or even Bristol. Nothing doing all week then mayhem at the weekend.

If you want some real chav and crime ridden towns then go up north, Hull, Liverpool, Leeds, and if you want it really bad then why not try say Glasgow, or closer to home Swindon or Reading!

I live in the Marina and love it there, wouldn't live in West Swansea if you gave me a house, to much attitude. All fur coat and no knickers! Every Sunday they pour down from the west to SA1 to lunch at The Parilla, £8.75 for 2 courses, or sit outside the Touchan nursing 1 glass of wine all afternoon.
The guys, average age 55 all wear washed jeans, pointed yellow/brown shoes and shirts hanging out. They drink beer by the neck!!. The ladies wear white slacks, sandal's and loads of cheap jewellery. They talk rubbish, haven't got any money and always buy their drinks singly, never rounds.

Truthfully us SA1's laugh at them and wish they would go back to Verdi's. You may notice there are no SA1's winging and complaining on this forum. Why? Cos we have been around and lived, made money, lost money. Sure properties prices are falling through the roof but what about the market, loads of money to be made spreading on property funds and building companies going down. Swings and round abouts. Lose it one way but make it another.

A bit of gossip for you, the Irish backed 29 story tower development next to the Marriott owe £750.000 for cement alone. No cement, workers off site, completion delayed by a year. So all you Westies who thought you would make money buying off plan have a bit of a problem. I was reliably informed by a member of Dawson's that a lot of the investors in that development came from the Swansea West. We SA1's had a bit to much savvy.

I really do enjoy perusing this forum, but just lately there is just to much, bleating and winging. Come on guys lighten up!

Wonderful post marty - spot on and hilarious. You have brought a smile and a laugh to my face this morning.

Thanks for the gossip about the tower block.

It will be interesting to see who has bought into that block - whether it is locals or whether it is people from London and elsewhere? I will be interested to learn what the ratio is between locals and 'outsiders'.

I can imagine bankruptcies in Swansea West soaring in the coming year as they think they know it all. Last Summer I was in an, IMPO, expensively priced EAs in Mumbles - and that is saying something - where a well-known Swansea chap was buying a house for his, barely out of teens, son. The house he was buying was just short of 500K - yep - and when I ventured to him that it was over-priced and a crash was imminent he basically looked down his nose at me and loudly declared that he could afford it and that it was a long-term investment. He told me his son was initially going to rent it out!

Oh well...

All - thanks for the responses. I am from Swansea originally myself, so you've confirmed what I also know.

Swansea is a nice place to live for quality of life etc, but I also fear it might turn into a war zone if things really go downhill with the economy. The amount of scumbags in the city seems to be ever increasing to me, and that's before things start getting worse !

I see Wales is the worst area behind Northern Ireland for % drops in the Nationwide release today. Stroll on.

S'x is labelled the "Graveyard of Ambition". Overworked, but still accurate enough. You move in and the relaxed life-style, the unusual combination of beaches and countryside , friendly people..... it all becomes an intoxicating mix (Ask K. Amis - well you could, if he was still alive and kicking!!).
My point to Tulip, who seems unsettled (as you see when you read his posts) is to kick what is a very small comfort-zone into touch; take his money and run to more stimulating and attractive climes. As we see from the Expat Forum , if you don't like Oz, NZ , Patagonia FFS, you can always leave . Nothing ventured........
And whilst I agree that S'x is probably much like Hull or L'pool in terms of social mayhem, well, you usually reserve your greatest contempt for the most familiar don't you.
When I was last back in S'x , I happened to call briefly on a past associate. There he sat in his gleaming conservatory with his little wife, lolling in their Mayals domain which was now worth 500K(I guess) and the stench of their overwhelming smugness was sickening.(I was just waiting for him to offer me a Pimms). These are the types I want to see financially emasculated by this coming storm , I know many in Swansea. And you know who you are!!!

I agree with most of this, but why would you want to see your past associate financially emasculated ?

If he's worked hard and now has a £500k (soon to be £350k -ish) Mayals domain, and is happy with life, why would you want to see him screwed ? It smacks of jealousy a bit, unless you have other reasons to dislike him, of course.

Hi Gus,
What your chum probably doesn't know or want to is that his Mayals Shangri la is now worth £385.000 and decreasing. He probably re-mortgaged at the height bought wifey a nice 4 by 4, had a couple of holidays in Las Vegas and another in Dubia. Did a cruise on the Princess, took loads of pictures, shown them to everyone. It's all a bit like Mrs Buquett up there in the West! You would think they are living in Henley, Bath or Maidenhead the way they carry on. Very nouveau and they don't know how to handle it. He probably never sleeps at night, sex is totally out, she's having none of it because she now knows she's married to a D...Head.

Sometimes I despair, when I meet them socially as I have to (blame the wife for that) how can supposedly intelligent people be so financially inept and stupid. You are right they are so smug or were! Now it's my turn and I can't help rubbing it in. I am the scourge of P.As, Patrick's, Fairy Hill, Langland Bras even sometime Verdi's.

Westies who I know hate to see me coming cos they know that I know a lot more about property, it's upside and now downside than they do. I don't just nod anymore, I tell them the facts of life. The next 10 years of penury staring them in the face. As Captain Mannering said "they don't like it up them"

When they say "Oh, it's just a blip and will right itself" I have this strange laugh, a cross between a guffor a snort and a whinny.
No it will not, There is a correlation between politics, banking and housing. If this interests you then Goto:http://www.order-order.com/ It can only get worse.

Wasn't it Corporal Jones who said it?

Gus, I think your mate's missus was putting it about down Newton Road last weekend looking for a bloke with a wodge of cash to keep her in the life that she has become accustomed to. Lots of poking from lots of boys coming up... Actually, it is going to be open-season like 40-something peroxide blonde ladies in Swansea West come the crash... I think I might stay...

Nah, much more fun with prettier, young not yet screwed up girls all over the World!

Gus, I think your mate's missus was putting it about down Newton Road last weekend looking for a bloke with a wodge of cash to keep her in the life that she has become accustomed to. Lots of poking from lots of boys coming up... Actually, it is going to be open-season like 40-something peroxide blonde ladies in Swansea West come the crash... I think I might stay...

Nah, much more fun with prettier, young not yet screwed up girls all over the World!

Sorry Dave, I got carried away a bit and forgot my facts. It's a good quote though and I think very apt.

Cheers.

Hi Shunny. Not so much jealousy- some years ago I rejected that life style; but resentment ... then a resounding yes.
This guy always had an irritating air of self-importance and pretentiousness , though the wife was a serious driver in the onward and upward quest (she works in a supermarket FFS.... I'd better not reveal anymore!). But the inadvertent tripling of his net worth in the last 10 years (only based on home sweet home , I'm sure and certainly NOT hard work )had seriously fuelled his already overly elevated self-esteem.
I would say at this point that his smugness (probably partly based on his knowledge of my recent divorce and thus , homelessness) was deliciously and visably dented when I casually dropped into the conversation how the presence of my driver and maids in Indonesia, contributed substantially to reducing the stresses of living in a city of 12 million people.( Normally I consciously conceal this detail from friends , for danger of giving the wrong impression. I'm a working class man with no desire either to hide, or to forget his roots and whatever else the Welsh are, we normally hate pretention and baseless airs and graces in people).
Lost my way... the resentment. Very simply based on the fact that the tripling of his worth (and many others)has been achieved solely by him sitting on his atrophied ring for a decade, whilst muggins here has had to work his knackers off in a sweaty, corrupt hell-hole to stand still.

She's getting on a bit now, but there's still something about her. I would for sure.

Indeed, all that shite is a pre-requisite in Henley but in Swansea....give me a break. But when it's all just based on some financial chimeric that the mugs are unable or unwilling to see. I'll be looking out for you in Fairyhill.

The women are the problem - they all have aspirations way way beyond them. I have given up dating Swansea women - another reason why I should leave - because I don't think they will ever be happy with whatever status they achieve. They always want more. I know some might say that is a description of women generally but, gee, Swansea girls seem to have... well, years ago a friend commented that their egoes are writing cheques that their looks and personality can't cash... My last Swansea girlfriend made me ill with her demands and I got out of it because I realise that she would always want more, more, more and that it was/would drive me to an early grave. Be very careful with them.

Quite - I guessed as much, but I don't like pre-judging people until the facts are known.

I have a few friends who live in the Mumbles and Gower who bought at the right time, work hard and are genuinely down-to-earth lovely people. The fact their properties have doubled or tripled in value is their good fortune, good luck to them.

I also know the type you mention above, and can understand your attitude in this case. Some will be MEW'd to the eyeballs, be maxd on ccards and will be having a rough time in the next few years. I won't feel sorry for them, but will feel sorry for their kids.

[quote name='Shunnyonions' date='Jul 2 2008, 10:50 AM' post='1191296']
Quite - I guessed as much, but I don't like pre-judging people until the facts are known.

I have a few friends who live in the Mumbles and Gower who bought at the right time, work hard and are genuinely down-to-earth lovely people. The fact their properties have doubled or tripled in value is their good fortune, good luck to them.

I also know quite a few members of the Mumbles/Gower community who unwittingly bought at the right time. They certainly didn't know they were buying at the right time but that was their luck. Not to sure if they are down to earth lovely people!!

Then it all gets a bit silly! having now got more equity in their house than they could dream of, they re-mortgaged, suck out the equity and go on a spending spree. The restaurant's in Oystermouth and Mumbles never had it so good. I know one bloke bought an Aston Martin but can now only afford to insure it for 30 days a year! The thing about the Westies is that they are like lemming's, they have this herd instinct, they do everything together and generally make a mess of things.

I used to have a flat in Rotherslade Road at the bottom opposite to where the old Osborne used to be. Got rid of it when the Osborne was dropped and they started building those flats. To much dust and mess. Loads of westies were buying off plan, not 1 but 2 or 3 flats with minimum deposit hoping to make a killing. They must be a bit sick now.

The female westies used to flock to the beach there with their westie sprogs, spread themselves out with rugs, prams and rubber beds etc, and glare at anyone who came anywhere near their space. THEY USED TO PARK IN OUR PRIVATE CAR PARK AS IF IT WAS THEIR RIGHT. and wing if they were asked to move.

Tulip is in my humble opinion is right. The women are by far the worse, loud, rude, greedy, ungracious and very ungrateful for anything. They also seem to have a fair relaxed attitude to moral behaviour which I think is a good thing, Take what you can in exchange for a couple of drinks but, never, never, and I mean never even think about marrying one. If you already have then I take it all back!.

These housing threads are all fine and dandy, but it's the S'x slapper threads that I really luvs!
Following the '92 crash I sold my house and losing money, I decided I would rent for a while . (I had bought late in life and was never convinced of the one way merits).On moving back to Abertawe I moved in with a S'x woman (Ms X) as her tenant and it was business only.... honest! Now , I'll be the first to say she had a heart of gold, but she was a total slapper. If it had a heartbeat and was even remotely capable of firming, she would nail it.Talk about predatory females; she was astonishing.
But more amazing were her friends; all in their late 30's , mostly married and well off. They would congregate in Ms X's house with their bottles of vodka before hitting the town later that night, and of course, as the vodka loosened their tongues so the retelling of their recent encounters became more graphic and explicit. Numerous tales of toasting/roasting (which is it , I tend to get them mixed up myself) and all told without embarrassment or signs of regret , despite the fact they were married or in relationships.
It was a real eye-opener . I'd always had a low opinion of the S'x female, but after 12 months exposure to these girls and their antics , nothing would surprise me.

Hilarious guys - both spot on. You can take the girl out of S'x but you can't take the slapper out of a large number of Swansea girls alas. Sadly, it is like a virus that seems to invade and take over even the 'nicest' of women here in Swansea. The worrying thing - and this is something I learnt the hard way - is that you can be with a lovely woman and over time she begins to become corrupted to think and eventually act like the slappers down Newton Road or Wind Street. I am so wary of S'x women now and virtually every single S'x man I know is too.

As you say, having affairs does not seem to be enough for them and their aspirational lives - roasting and whatever toasting is seems to something that they not only consider normal but somehow, perversely, consider their right. Worst, is the vulture mentality of being with a bloke for as long as he can provide the material things but then moving on ruthlessly, taking the poor sod for everything, when something potentially better pops up.

Ultimately, the looks fade, the bleached blonde hair looks ridiculous and they put on weight.. lots of weight... and end up miserable, lonely and very, very bitter blaming Men for all that is wrong in their lives. Then they look around younger S'x women to bitch about first and then to corrupt them secondly... the drip, drip, drip bitching affect of S'x women which destroys so many marriages around here.

I have actually met S'x women who, too late, have seen the errors of their way by listening to such women and who totally regret now having divorced their husbands and wish they could be back with him... but usually after all the crap the poor, innocent, hard-working S'x bloke has gone through he too ends up a fully paid-up member of the Swansea Male Misogynist club.

As for the Westies who are all fur coat and no knickers... good enough for them. I imagine that there are hundreds, if not thousands, of people in Swansea West who are in serious do do. When the first Marina was built people who bought in there at the start did actually make lage profits on their flats and townhouses. Westies realising this seem to have all piled into the new developments down there and in recent years I have been considered a looney for not doing so - thankfully, I had my head screwed on right and simply could not see where all the rental income was going to come from. Judging by the expensive cars that many in Swansea West have, often 2 or 3 in a drive, the frequent long-haul holidays and the occasional weekend away to Europe, plus the ramping of housing prices and no doubt investing in something in SA1, then the future for these people is bleak. As I have said before, I expect the divorce rates to soar in Swansea West in the next few years and there are going to be loads of these late 30-somethings onwards bleached blonde women looking for another sucker... I mean, a successful male to latch onto.

Any woman reading the above will think it sad and bitter. I am willing to bet that most S'x men would agree with it though.

I've been aware of this site for a while but have only got around to browsing the forum today.
I expected some intelligent opinions on the housing market but didn't expect the hillariously accurate social commentary on Swansea!
Many people here flock to Wind Street during the weekend to hand over their hard-earned and not so hard-earned cash to get pissed and shagged. If you're thinking about moving to Swansea and you have a thing for 18 - 49 year old overweight bleached-blonde women who can be yours after a few drinks then Swansea is definately for you! Incidentally, a friend recently showed me his Facebook account and the group of our old schoolmates; eleven of the women were single mothers but only four of them were now blonde.
We also have a large student population who come to Swansea to learn how to binge drink/drug and graduate with a useless degree that enables them to work in one of our many call-centre's (as recently happened to my sister's boyfriend).
What areas do I see ripe for investment during the property crash? How about Mayhill where, according to a headline in today's local paper, 'the streets awash with drugs.' But then so is Clase, Blaenymaes, Bonymaen, Trallwn, Townhill, Clydach, St Thomas, Mount Pleasant, Brynmill, Cwmrhydyciew...

I can't believe they have a drug problem in Townhill! Really! I bet they have an even bigger and more expensive one in Sketty.

I could happily carry on with this thread; so much to say. Unfortunately having to sign off for two weeks guys. Back to the UK (and S'x) primarily to see this thing unfolding for myself .
Am I safe offering 50% of asking? Don't worry... no chance, I may be a bit slow , but brain dead I am not!

Hi All,

My first post! Some interesting stuff above!

A couple of years ago I bought an off plan flat down Swansea's SA1 Waterfront. It's a 2 bedroom flat overlooking the Prince of Wales Dock, adjacent to Altamar and due for completion very soon! Obviously, due to the change in market this has been a big mistake. I'm not an investor and bought the flat for personal reasons. Fortunately I have some equity behind me which will help me in the event of a crash - which I know will happen, but not sure by how much! How much do you think flats in SA1 will crash by? I think the ones situated on the dock (i.e. altamar, south quay) will decrease less than others going up on the marina such as Aurora, Meridian Quay tower - What do you think?

Marty - I noticed you say you live down SA1. I'm very interested in your opinions. And how do you find living there?

Many thanks

Dafty!

How much would it crash by?? try 40-50% in the next 2 years (best case scenario, based on trends from city centre apartments in B`ham, Manchester, Leeds etc)

best case scenario for who?

Hi Dafty,

It seems only yesterday when everyone was boasting how much their house had increased in value, not now of course, there's nothing to boast about when your house value is dropping like a stone.

When requesting info on the rise or fall of property prices you must keep in mind the name of this forum "House price crash" so most of the posters are just a little bit biased!!
I live in the newer end of the old marina, Pockets Wharf and really love it because of course they can't develop there anymore and not withstanding what other posters may say it's certainly not a slum. The prices are just to high for the glue sniffers to move in.

As for the drop in prices in SA1. Yes, they will drop further, probably by about 15-25%. I never take any notice of what EA's either advertise or say but I do keep a careful eye on the market.
To give you some idea below is an advert from an online property portal that I subscribe to. www.profitdata.co.uk

"Are you considering buying a buy to let property 2 Bed New Build Marina Apartments reduced from 180k (£140,000)
Date posted: Wednesday 2nd July
Location: Swansea Look no further we have negotiated a fantastic deal, we have secured a 40k discount on these new build flats situated in the popular Marina development. With rental values in excess of £700 these represent a very good investment. Phone: Robert 07939068882"

It turns out it is genuine the price on these flats in January was £180.000 but I think he would come even lower.
I think his rental anticipation is a bit optimistic. Even at £700 per month it wouldn't service the loan anyway. The guy lives in London so to him the prices must seem low. I reckon he bought them as investor and is now trying to off load.

Sorry Dafty but in my opinion you are going to have to take a loss. They should pick up later in the year. Barretts shares at 42p close of business Friday. Says it all.
If you want some really sound information and not opinions from the uninformed then go to this site they are always on the button. Market Oracle

This site is the Holy Grail for serious investors.

Thanks Marty. About 10 years ago I used to live in Ferrara Square and loved it there. The problem is around there now is the building work in particular the new towers! At least in my new flat they can't build something in front of it as it looks over the POW dock. Some of the asking prices for Aurora and Meridian Quay are 50 % greater than those on the dock for a 2 bed same size build. Don't make sense to me!

Do you know which set of flats the advert "2 Bed New Build Marina Apartments reduced from 180k (£140,000)" refers to?