Guest_flaps_*

Of course, the problem with apprenticeships is they add addtional cost to the company and it needs to be seens as a long term investment, which as you point out, is a big problem with UK management. However, if the cost of doing business was much less in this country, due to a lower cost of living, then companies would be globally more competitive and thus could suck up some additional investment costs on apprenticships. At the minute, they are a short term luxury UK business cannot afford, despite the long term problems it is fast bringing.

Is this SMI for life for oldies still available? Girlfriends Dad, a self employed builder of 66 is on IO and he is reaching the point where his arthritis will prevent him working soon. Can he just quit working now on health grounds and drop onto this?

If it helps, a mate of mine was looking at buying a new build 4 bed town house (North Notts) which sold in 2006 for £186,000. It has been repo'ed and a cash buyer put in a bid of £112,500. Mate went in at £114,000 (mortgaged). He was contacted a couple of weeks later by the agent who said if he wasn't willing to up his offer, they were going to proceed with the cash buyer. Mate told them to go ahead. So that's just shy of a 40% crystalised reduction. It's all about repo's!! When/if they increase/get put on the market, prices will come down. Of course, this almost 40% fall will not show up in any of the monthly rise/fall figures, even the Land Registry. It's a disgrace!

A refreshing twist on "I'll get me coat". Like it

How so?

Any specific show, or just in general?

Thanks for the replies. I couldn't see past my YOY mind set!!

Sorry, for a simpleton, can you explain the deflation? Aren't prices still rising just at a slower rate?

I'm afraid I'm one of the flash Harrys where the term is concerned. Seriously, the chicks just dig it!

Personally, I want to beat KLF and burn more than a million. The less I pay for my house, the more likely I am to achieve this goal

I'm 35, have a big deposit (almost cash purchase for a dump) and a reasonably stable above avverage salary job. I guess I'm just odd then. The way I see it, not throwing away a few 10's of K's now could make a huge difference to the later part of my life. It's s risk/reward balance and I'm currently happy to continue as things are currently. I'm from the North Notts area if that helps. Not sure how things are looking your way, but only price drops, seller frustration, growing worry among the sheeple, houses sitting on the market for years and broken chains around my way, so I guess I'll waste a bit more of my life renting. Or instead go to India in November for 3 weeks to watch the cricket. Sadly, non of my mortgaged up friends can afford to join me. Shame.

Sounds similar to my experiences in manufacturing, for both shop floor lads on the tools and engineers.

Base rate to 5% or more? A sudden reversal of forebearance? Removal of SMI?

Pretty much where I am. It takes a lot of stress out of your life having a big wodge of cash to fall back on. I could buy a crap place for cash now, but why? My interest on savings even at these levels covers half my monthly rent and regardless of the indices, prices ain't going to go up any significant amount for donkeys. Even if they stagnate, I'm adding to the cash pool, meaning each month I can buy a better and better place for cash. I'm not beholden to my job and I can get the **** out of dodge any time I choose should it be necessary. That's a lot of flexibility and I'm pretty comfortable with it, more so than just diving into the market now and tying myself up with now flexibility. The only thing I need to worry about is either the banks collapsing and me losing what I have, or hyper-inflation, meaning I will stand around watching my hard earned go up in smoke just to keep warm for a bit longer. But I'm sure there will be plenty of other stuff to be worrying about should either situation occur, so I'll kep on the sidelines for now.

If the sucker goes down and takes everything with it, the last thing I'd want is to be stuck in an illiquid pile of bricks. If things get that bad, what seems a nice area currently could change quite significantly, quite quickly.

Haha, I'll tick the glass half full one then and balance things out!

I got 3%. do I tick 1-3%, or 3-6%?

I wouldn't consider 6-7% overbuilt on.

Isn't that the same argument for not reforming public sector pensions?

Was it the Classic 6210? If you only wanted a phone to call and text, that was the beast!! The battery life was stonking. Wish I hadn't lost mine, I fancy a retro-relapse!

You see, back in my days of shelf stacking, this was called "facing up". I think this proves just why a retail apprenticship is so damn important. The confusion and cost to a company such un-standardised terminology could cause could run into the tens of pences.

No it can't, unless either wages or subsidisation do the same. Maybe some current renters will move back into their parents massive homes when their parents cannot sell for 'what it is worth' and can no longer look after themselves properly either. Who knows what currently unpaletable possibilities will become far less unpaletable in the future?

Because they have been suckered into mortgage slavery by being conned into the 'house prices only ever go up' mantra. Now they are desperate to keep the roof of their depreciating asset over their head and have no choice but to 'take it from the man'.

Apologies, I've just discovered the buyers have pulled out of the sale. it is back on the market, reduced by 5%.

Had my first experience of this only yesterday! Friend of family moved over to the Far East soem years ago permanently and rented out his house. Came back early last year and decided he wanted to sell. House sits on the market all year, he came back in autumn and took it off the market, deciding to keep it after all (and so it disappears off Rightmove). My Dad got a call in December from him saying someone has made and offer and he is selling after all. Spoke with my Dad on Saturday and he is back this weekend to clear the house out. Last week, the house was still not on Rightmove. I looked yesterday and what do you know? Yup, his house is back up for sale on Rightmove, despite the fact it has already sold and he is emptying the bloody thing this weekend!!!