DonnieDarker

Well it seems I am 9p per share up already! I'd been recommended them by the family broker and my an Australian friend who is something of a day trader so I had my eyes on them. I'd promised myself that having seen them dip beneath 1000p once and not bought that the next time that happened I would buy again. That's this year's allowance spent...sit back and watch the fun now. Buying shares is so much more fun than giving it to the banks. I could lose half my money of course but its not money I 'need' for next year's flat purchase anyway. In the meantime the only thing that stops me being depressed about the lack of a HPC is the returns I have been lucky enough to see in mine (& partners) relatively small pfolios in the last 2 years.

BLAMMO! 991p

Whoops Apocalypse...where are you now?! I wish I was prophetic about the House MArket as I am about Crouch!

Clearly you've been away long enough to forget the English tradition of manners. You go on watching and waiting and watching and waiting...

Dont understand the point of this posting. The market is hardly falling through the floor is it? In fact, my opinion is that there are some interesting buying opportunities out there at the moment. Take aim, and ready that trigger. Whilst the housing market continues to flatline there's money to be made elsewhere.

The latest stabbing to be reported in the national media happened in Wood Green's 'Shopping City'. That will be the same Wood Green recently described by Time Out magazine as one of the most up and coming areas in London and one whose local tribe was "Guardian reading Meeja types".

SCUM. BURN THOSE HOUSES DOWN

Yeah. The market's really collapsing...Black Monday my @rse.

I dont think you're putting any energy into being arogant but you are symptomatic of a generation who wave off today's struggle with the generalisation that "you had it as hard in your day". My parents are of the same mindset. Unless you are a FTB or the parent of one I really dont think you realise how insane the situation is...and why should you? If I'd been able to buy when it was cheap why would I care or want to read about how FTBs are so priced out that the average age of one these days is 35 and that the proportion making up the market is as low as it has been for 20+ years.

So let's get this straight. You were able to buy a property for 4.5 times your salary. My situation: having to buy for 4 times our JOINT salary after putting down a 28% deposit. "The music that you (bulls) constantly play...it says nothing to me about my life".

Play a new record Sam. (Jesus wept).

1.You have to factor in the expenses that you will incur above and beyond the repayments: Service Charges Insurance Upkeep and maintenance Furnishings As a ballpark I am of the opinion that there are approx £2k (minimum) pe annum of hidden expenses like this when it comes to buying vs selling. 2. After all these expenses and the repayments will you still be able to save a decent amount each month? If no, dont do it.

I have to second this. Borough is grim IMO. And what is suspicious is that you look at the regeneration that has happened because of the South Bank on many areas that side of the Thames and places like Borough dont seem to have improved much, if at all. Due massive falls if and when the market turns Bear. For the moment it is probably diining out on the "South Bank" card but as I said has actually been untouched by most of the good work of the South Bank. Also, if we're going to be Snobbish about it, new builds are legally required to have a certain amount of affordable units (can be as much as 15% I believe) which will be occupied by chav-criminal underclass if you're unlucky. One more thing... I know of someone who cought an ex-council THREE bed in Borough for less than 250k. 275 sounds like a complete rip-off.

My target is in my sights (BHP)...I am just waiting for the moment to pull the trigger and BLAMMO.

Hardly, what it shows is that sellers are still taking the piss with steep asking prices and FTBs will not take the bait.

Flat 3 withdrawn from the market and LET out!

Bengali Bengali Shelve your Western Plans And Understand Because its hard enough When you belong here

It just wasn't like the old days anymore No, it wasn't like those days Am I still ill ?

"And if you must go to work tomorrow Well If I were you I wouldnt Bother"

England is mine and it owes me a living." My new philosophy on housing!

Chuz...you could have made SO much money simply by holding. Shame. Try reading "Welcome To My Trading Room"...I'm only 1/3 through but it preaches some good rules and philosophies. I have to say though that if you are in the red and you have been playing the markets for the last 2 years then perhaps this is not the place for you. It has been very easy to make paper profits in the last 2 years while the markets have soared...

Yes...I have had good tips on them from one company and one friend - both of whom I trust. They will be this year's investment I think...just picking my time now... £7! If only you had held!!!

Like most, I had a crappy day on the markets today and saw a few % wiped off most of my holdings. But I'm not worried, in fact I'm pleased because I've got this years allowance to invest and a big drop in the market (for me) presents a buying opportunity. I'd identified a couple of shares I was interested in and I will probably pursue those in the next fortnight. Thinking strongly about BHP Billiton at the moment but it still looks pricey at the moment.

My advice to any of you who dont have lilly-livers or nerves as weak as cotton would be to be calm, rational and pick your moment if shares continue to drop over the next week or two. The kind of hysteria we are likely to see on the markets could present some good buying opportunities. The crowd is getting noisy...dont lose your own voice in it.

This place makes me laugh...the markets have a very bad day and people are saying crash! It's this kind of emotional turbulence that presents opportunities for the long-term investors amongst us. I will certainly be picking my moment in the next week or so to invest this years isa allowance into shares.