Wishful Thinking

Just had the announcement yesterday first day back from holiday... It's all a bit surreal at the moment. Still at least this time we've got 18 months to find something else

Thanks for your comments.... I've calmed down a bit now It's just that sometimes I feel like I'm stuck in a parallel universe.

Just been lectured by a friend about buing a house. I try not to get into a discussion about house prices with friends as I don't want to get into an argument, but couldn't help myself. The usual 'renting is money down the drain', how much money have you paid over the years in rent etc. He was obviously trying to push us into buying. He even suggested we should lie about our income, do a self cert, IO mortage etc etc.or buy a cheap (cheap in Cornwall???) BTL hovel to rent out (I despair!!). Just to makes things worse he quips 'I'm going to take out a IO mortagate to the max, everone does it. When prices rise by so many 10's of thousands pounds I'll be so much better off etc etc ad nauseum. What makes things worse is this friend used to be an EA years ago, during the early nineties recession and clearly can't remember how different it was then. His branch actually closed down during the last downturn, but he cannot believe house prices will not keep on rising forever! (or interest rates going up). ARGHHHH... :angry: Sorry about the rant!

No problem, they will ship in some polish or portuguese workers. There is a clay village which has a lot of foreign workers and there is a lot of tension with the locals. They mostly seem to work in local factories on minimum wages that locals refuse to do. They were bitching about it at my workplace today, apparently they steal alcohol in Asda...

Very interesting. I particularly like the following quote from the article; "As I have said often, the housing bubble has been more a lending bubble. It will be the impairment of the financial institutions that will stop the flow of credit to the real-estate market. In turn, that will accelerate the collapse in house prices somewhere along the way." Happy Bank Holiday weekend!

Ahh.. John Prescott AKA 'Jabba the Hut' I think TTRTR has nicked his avatar!!

Colleagues talking about this programme right now.... prices will go up by 40% because they said so etc. bla bla bla. They really believe everything as if Krusty and Pill are financial experts. These people are in their mid to late forties, so must have some memory of the last property crash (???) I'm keeping my head down, just can't be bothered getting into a discussion...

Agree. Constantly hear of people trying to sell, but due to chains breaking down their house is put back on the market. More and more people are complaining about the lenght of time it takes to sell. A few years ago anything would sell within days or weeks of being on the market. It's just not the case now. A great number of my colleagues have invested in BTL new build flats in my area, most of them are not on particularly great salaries! It's going to end in tears.... we've just had over 130 people being made redundant again...

Incidentally, I was visiting Padstow too at the weekend. Walked past Steins Seafood Cafe/Deli on the way to the car park. Had a quick look a the menu.... Cod & Chips for over £10!!!!! for one person. Seriously doubt the cod is caught locally either... So we headed home for ham sandwiches on the patio instead... Locally, Padstow is known as Padstein (or Chelsea on Sea)

Catch 22 - it was not in any way a dig at you - sorry if it came across that way. What I meant to say was we're screwed (generally speaking) either way. Can't afford to buy a house today, won't be any house to inherit as it may be cashed in to pay for nursing fees in a worse case scenario... Personally, I don't expect to inherit anything and it doesn't bother me one bit. I care more about people than property...

Not so sure about that. What may happen is many may be forced to sell their parents houses/assets to pay for nursery care. Had a conversation with one of our suppliers the other day. He was very upset at seeing his wife's parents assets being eroded away to pay for nursing home fees (something like £2000 week for a couple, one of them have alzheimers and need 24 hour care). They couldn't afford to pay themselves, so the parent's assets were put into a trust. The trust is in his wife's name and they have to account for every penny spent, and she also have to pay insurance (in case she'll run off with the money) something like £800 per year!! He was very upset when he told me this, not just the money issue, but having your life inspected in minute details. They both work full time so don't have the time to look after the parents (they live miles away). To be cynical, if you're only hope is inheriting, better hope they pop their clogs quickly!!

Me too! Booked 2 weeks in France late June. Can't wait!!! Don't have a massive mortgage to pay so can afford the odd holiday or two...

Thought some of you might find this of interest! http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4739154.stm "I lived with my parents until I was 29," says Laura. Most of my friends stayed with their parents until they were married. "It is expensive to rent property particularly in the cities and most young people can't afford it. If you can't afford to live, you are not even thinking about children." Echoes the views of many posters on this board....

This is the norm in other countries in the EU... Britain is a strange place... everyone is scared to be ripped off by somebody... landlord/tenant.. employer/employee... council etc. there is no trust when everyone is encouraged to look after number one at the detriment of everybody else. It does not foster community spirit!

Anecodote... friend at work trying to sell her house as they're struggling to pay the interest only mortgage (bought at the peak). They're looking to downsize somewhere cheaper... House has been on the market for about 2 months - received offer of £174K (advertised at £179K) they'd agreed to sell, but house fell through due chain further up breaking. They're gutted as £5K reduction would have been OK for them. I really hope they can sell soon. Another friend selling house in Truro, been on the market for about 6 months, no serious offers. They've just reduced they price by £50K (can't remember how much they were asking, but thought it was very overpriced at the time). Also keep seeing lots of adverts with 'reduction' or 'new price' and for sale signs mushrooming all over the place. But there are still many developments around the area, in particular around Newquay. Lots of new 'investment/retirement' flats being built. Perhaps it's starting to happen in the South West... ??? Rightmove listed a 5% drop in my area last month

"Lostwithiel house prices are set to boom after the town was identified as a property hot spot in a nationwide survey that predicted the cost of property is set to almost double. The former Cornish capital has been named the third most desirable place to live in the UK with house prices set to soar by 89 per cent within the next five years, according to website propertyforecasts.co.uk which has compiled a list of the top 20 cities and towns where house prices are expected to explode." http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/displayNod...&folderPk=83292 But there are no jobs here... what are all these people going to do to be able to pay their mortgages or is the whole of Cornwall perhaps going to turn into one giant retirement park full of grey haired elderly tending their gardens, perhaps supported by young Polish workers/cleaners/bum wipers at £3.00 per hour living 10 to a caravan...

Hi Bandylegs I guess St Ives, being full of mostly holiday property, probably don't offer much in the way of suitable rental for a family. However, you may find something further out? (eg Truro, Helston Penzance etc) where you may have more choice. I would scan the local papers, as you will find many 'private' landlords advertise in these - Cornish Guardian, The West Briton etc you will find links to them on the following website: http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk

France and Spain have announced they are lifting Eastern European Worker restrictions... "The latest country to announce it will lift restrictions on workers from the new European Union countries is France. Priority will be given to sectors where there are recruitment pressures -- shortages to fill.Paris has said the method of lifting the restrictions will be discussed with the country's powerful trade unions before a May 1st EU" "Spain has said it will remove restrictions on labour migration from these countries from this May 1st." From euronews website... I know where I would rather go if I had a choice.... warm climate, fresh fruit, cheaper living costs etc. Good Luck to them I say!!

Congratulations! Best wishes to yourself and your family - you will love it here... great line up at Eden Project too for the summer.

Like it! Was there always a blog or is that new???

I've lost count of the numbers of redundancies we've had in the past 2 years I've been working for this company. It doesn't even come as a surprise/shock anymore. We were informed yesterday 130 jobs are being made redundant - this in a low wage area. Many will struggle to replace the salaries they've been earning outside of this company. I guess they can always clean some caravans at minimum wage... or get a job in Tesco. PS. I think I'm OK (for now...)

Wohoo!! Excellent news... down they come like a house of cards. Was talking to a colleague recently who's got her house on the market. They want to sell asap as they're moving 'up north'. She's very nervous... I told her she need to price realistically. If the price is right it will sell!!

http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/displayNod...tentPK=14065586 "Just 16 years ago Newquay had been one of the cheapest places in Britain to buy a home, but since then prices have risen several times over. Land Registry figures for late 2005 showed the average house price in the town was £215,935 - compared to the typical England and Wales average of £193,979. However, property consultancy Hometrack, which bases its data on more recent estate agent sales figures, said homes in the area were now selling for an average of more than £231,000." Hmmm... now what will it be? £50,000 renovation project in a beautiful 'chavfree' village in France or £231,000 for that holiday home in Newquay 'stag party' weekend destination of the UK, arcades, nightclubs... drunk people urinating/being sick outside your home.

My poor English 6' 4" husband is always banging his head on the beams/doorways... But they are lovely and cosy arent they... especially in the winter with the fire going! Gotta get back to work now!

Having a bit of a blue day today.. I've only ever lived in Cornwall in this country, but I can imagine it must be worse elsewhere. I'm Swedish by origin and when I think of 'countryside' = wild countryside without designated walking areas, public toilets etc... it's miles away from what's over here... my sisters couldn't believe the size of the cottages over here, thought they were very cute, just like 'hobbit' houses.