UnconventionalWisdom

+1

I agree completely with you, I'm angry too and may leave this island because of the mess they've caused. When I say friends, I didn't mean close ones and I certainly don't advocate their choices. One is more an acquaintance and the other is someone from school. My frustration is that they talk like they know the system and we're all stupid for not getting involved. My point was that these people need to see hardship otherwise they will continue to spout rubbish like, property cycles blah blah blah. At least one of them didn't know about section 24 before I told her and bought just before the 3% stamp duty increase. I told her the demand was due to this extra stamp duty introduction and pointed her to bland insight's book on Amazon to tell her about the new btl crack-down. I doubt she bought the book as she bought a place in Didcot when I save her months later.

Why does everyone have a great, get rich quick scheme??? If it was that easy, it would have been done by now. Much better would be to sit back, relax, enjoy the time off and plan a way forward.

This is my worry. If their recklessness goes unchallenged, they'll be further convinced we're all mad for doubting them

You hear it all too often these days. I've got a couple of friends who have got into btl. They read books on it and think they've stumbled upon something the rest of us are too stupid to understand or we are too cautious to make money from going into debt. When you explain that things could go extremely sour, they look at you like you don't understand. Unfortunately, so far they are right and I have no evidence that their decisions will bit them in the ****.

Maybe this is the case. Tell them don't worry, it'll be alright, you'll have it better than your parents, believe uncle Philip. Sad thing is that I think one of the main reasons people under 35 haven't got angry with the situation in the UK is that they look at their boomer parents (who are often less educated) and believe it's just a matter of waiting a few years until they will have the same.

I don't get it either. They state that they will continue with help to buy and two days later Hammond is saying that free markets were the only, not merely the best, way to improve living standards and underpin free societies. I'm pulling my hair out! Surely funding help to buy means it's not a free market. What am I missing?

yep, give just enough to just enough people and they gain power. Maybe people believe they have somehow made it to middle class or are about to if they vote tory. Again it's up to the opposition to make people understand that tory policies are not in their best interests

If this perks the market up again, I can definitely see a brain drain coming. Intelligent people who can move abroad still hope of a life here but 2 or 3 more years of HPI and I think most people will give up.

This is a good point. Help to buy has been portrayed as the government actually trying to do something for first-time buyers (even if it's not). Best thing to help first-time buyers is a crash to affordable levels, but no one would accept an intentional crash as a policy. If they all know it but have their hands tied, we are all royally screwed (even more so than now!)

If they don't, we have to worry what their plan is. It seems recently that left-wing commentators are better at dismantling policies of the tories than the shadow cabinet

I agree with you to a certain extent- but a lot of people see the policy for what it is- direct funding for property developers. Surely it's the job of opposition MPs to educate the masses in the shortfalls of Government policy. Surely labour MPs can use facts and figures to show how help to buy has done the opposite of helping?!

Industry is responding someone to this- Dyson has agreed to develop an institute training and individual companies are making offers to entice students from Unis. Even the non-degree apprentices from places like the Catapult centres look better than a degree from a Uni which offers little practical experience. It's hard to see the Unis surviving if these get more popular.

Companies are realising that the degrees don't teach students enough practical knowledge. A guy I used to work with had a degree in electrical engineering and could barely connect appropriate cables let alone design circuit boards. Students are beginning to question the worth of courses after hearing stories of graduates not getting jobs and slow-growth wages. Apprentices with paid-for degrees by companies are probably the way forward to get a degree so you can change job whilst also learning practical skills rather than just attending lectures to learn material to pass exams.

Been lurking since just before Dave and Gideon started their BTL clampdown. At that point, I was looking for a flat in the SE and was shocked by what you got for the money. After meeting “investors” at viewings/open days I knew something wasn’t right. A bit of research steered me to this site which offered explanations for the madness. So pleased I didn’t jump in! I probably have the main hallmarks of a HPCer- well-educated, job in the SE but originally from the midlands where mates/family on less income have better houses and living standards. Taught English is Asia where my take-home pay after including the free accommodation was pretty much the same as what I get here as an engineer after subtracting rent. Also lived in Germany where it was a pleasure to see a society which is not focussed on house prices! After a couple of years of lurking, it’s time to contribute with my disbelief at what is happening and what the sheeple accept!