robbingXpat

For what it's worth, not a lot! HPC was my housing 'authority' (still is), so we STR in Jan 2008, and to downsize. Initially in 2008, and 2009 the interest on our 'house' pot paid the rent, then the financial crisis killed interest rates! Struggled on until 2014, then bit the bullet again, and bought a small 3 (2&1/2!) bed, new build. Very pleased with the first 6 years, no DIY, no maintenance bills so far, very energy efficient, only down side is parking spaces for visitors. But after 3 previous houses from 1972 to 2008, new kitchens, new bathrooms, rewires, and 1

What chance do our youngsters have, to ever enjoy a 'disposable income' life style? As I quoted recently on another thread- Glos, new build 2 bed flat, reduced by 16.7% to just £52,500 for a 1/4 share of the flat! Then 'rent' the remaining 3/4 for £336.88 per MONTH, then £125.14 SERVICE charge per MONTH! Just £462.02 per month plus the MORTGAGE, plus gas, elec, water, rates, etc. for a 2 bed 'box'. *** (EDIT- To add 1/4 share = 25% ownership, but 100% of the maintenance costs and repairs!) *** CRAZY, CRAZY, STUPID, STUPID times, then throw in your pension pot towa

Not sure if I'm in the right category, but my observation this morning. GLOUCESTER, new build 2 bed flat, bargain, reduced by 16.7%? Originally 'valued' at £262k, or buy a 1/4 share at £63k + rent, + service charge. Now, reduced to 'only' £52,500 (mortgage?) for the 1/4 share, + £336.88 rent, + £125.14 service charge, PER MONTH. How in God's name is this remotely 'getting on the property ladder', seems like huge debts to me! Thoughts?

2008 and 2014 were our decisive years! Addicted to HPC from about 2005/6, I took the anticipated values (-10%, -20%?) to fall seriously. Decided we knew the future market direction (DOWN?) in 2008, and chose to sell up and rent! In renting we did try different locations (good experience), but decided to buy again in 2014 before being priced out. Our 2014 purchase (October) has seen a rise of approximately 25% in 6 years, a new build, so no repair bills. In conclusion, my thoughts are exactly the same now as 15+ years ago, far too expensive, with a recession and huge un

(TORY DONOR Business's?).

lol. Brown borrowed/spent WAY, WAY LESS that Osborne did, tax breaks for the rich and poverty for the poor, a true Tory. Brown's worst crime way bailing out the gambling bankers ('Fred the shred', etc) and allowing them to keep huge bonus's, for failure! Those bonus's should have been cancelled when they lost the dodgy 'bets', and made to repay them, for such reckless behaviour.

GLOS, yes, but not like we'll see this winter! In 1989/90 we saw our then home 'value' go from approx £120k to about £75k, but it all returned (and more) by the time we STR in 2014. Property ownership is like snakes and ladders, it's not like on TV, profit, profit, profit!

Great faith in this site in those long gone days, STR in Jan 2008, expecting the predicted crash. I waited, and waited, and waited a bit longer, until October 2014, watching prices heading North. So, reluctantly, we bought again in 2014, and witnessed a 25.7% increase in the past 5 & 1/2 years. Yes, now expecting to see that 25.7% 'gain' wiped out, maybe even more, but it's only a home, not a business investment. We could have taken the BTR route when down sizing in 2008, but not our bag, seen too many trashed homes on TV. So, I'm still a HPC fan many years later,

Similar thoughts. Have a Skoda Fabia (£20 tax) as a runaround, plus a top of the range (even got TV!) Skoda Superb (£30 tax) for long trips. Both purchased at 4 years old for about 35% of their 'new' price! But just one bike, for good weather days. Very rare, but if my wife needs to drive she takes the Fabia and I'll use the Superb. Never looked or considered a 'monthly' cost posh motor, far too tight to change by lifetime habits of buying around the 4 year mark.

National builder ('Developer'!) in our small market town has smelt the coffee, and reduced their prices by £20k, but still way beyond the reach of local wages! £20k is just the beginning, reductions will have to continue if they hope to sell anything.

I'm not tech savvy, but 'googled' and saved, spot on. I prefer 'Zoopla' because of the price history, now have it on both. Happy property addict (just one 2 & 1/2 bed semi), always check what's happening locally, neither selling or buying, just an interest, like HPC!

Anyone recommend Virgin Bank? Never dealt with them, due to Branston!

One notable exception to that rule! TORY donor, NHS privateer, rail subsidy receiver, sues NHS for losing 'privatisation' contracts, hugely wealthy tax dodger, private island owner, but being a non tax payer is no handicap for not receiving low wage earners, tax payers, cash!

1949 baby, 'boomer' too. I found HPC in about 2007, kids left home, house too big, so we sold up to rent our way through the impending crash! (what crash) 2014, still waiting for that 'crash', we got impatient watching house prices still going up, and started looking to buy in again. October 2014 we buy a new build '2 & 1/2 bed' semi, still expecting that crash to come (and still believing it's around the corner, even now!), but our 2014 purchase has gone up about 25%. Never in our 36 years of home ownership had we lived on a housing 'estate', only had a very old place