Radio 4 On Spanish Ghost Towns

[copydude]

Listening to R4 in the car today about Spanish Ghost towns.

It's more evidence that the media (with the notable exception of the Daily Express) is finally presenting the dark side of property porn.

It even began with a group of children in Madrid singing a song about greedy bankers, characterising local sentiment.

The facts were crisp and nicely juxtaposed. As record levels of repossessions see the eviction of 180 families a day, the researcher adds that there are enough empty properties in Spain to accommodate the entire population of Norway.

All good stuff.

But one wonders when such hard-hitting journalism will cover the situation closer to home? Documenting the folly of ten years' HPI would make an equally interesting and perhaps more relevant programme. And I imagine you could make almost the same programme as today's about Ireland.

[Deckard]

Listening to R4 in the car today about Spanish Ghost towns.

It's more evidence that the media (with the notable exception of the Daily Express) is finally presenting the dark side of property porn.

Property S&M? Where is TMT when you need him ?

And I imagine you could make almost the same programme as today's about Ireland.

Yep, surprised nobody has done this yet.

[Pent Up]

I heard this today. The problem is that the program gives the feeling that Spain had a huge property bubble created by silly bank lending and almost looks down on them for having such a bubble in the first place, while totally ignoring any suggestion of a similar bubble here with similar causes.

I think there was one about Ireland. Which was almost identical, those foolish Irish and their massive property bubble! Of course ours isn't a bubble though, it's perfectly sustainable.

Edited August 30, 2011 by Pent Up

[Mrs Bear]

I heard this today. The problem is that the program gives the feeling that Spain had a huge property bubble created by silly bank lending and almost looks down on them for having such a bubble in the first place, while totally ignoring any suggestion of a similar bubble here with similar causes.

I think there was one about Ireland. Which was almost identical, those foolish Irish and their massive property bubble! Of course ours isn't a bubble though, it's perfectly sustainable.

Ours always was a rather different bubble, though. Where are our thousands of empty new builds that nobody wants to buy?

[winkie]

Ours always was a rather different bubble, though. Where are our thousands of empty new builds that nobody wants to buy?

Ours is a different problem...thousands of empty homes bought for investment growth purposes...an income not required too high maintenance......think gold and the properties they both hold.

[copydude]

Ours always was a rather different bubble, though. Where are our thousands of empty new builds that nobody wants to buy?

I think if you look up Shelter, they do refer to long-term unoccupied homes.

Thousands? They mentioned 23,000 in Scotland just the other day.

Here you can see the cynicsim of former Labour housing ministers. 'Regeneration' meant destroying residential areas. (Google 'Ruth Kelly, John Prescott and 'Luftwaffe'.) Of course, fewer houses mean higher prices. Spain missed a trick here.

However, to answer your question, we still do have lots of empty new-builds . . . the city thru lounge/kitchen/diner/shower/folding sofa-bedroom made out of a modified chinese container is not attracting the £250,000 mortgage that was expected.

You'll find these in lots of Northern, 'regenerated' towns'.

[InlikeFlynn]

Ours always was a rather different bubble, though. Where are our thousands of empty new builds that nobody wants to buy?

Berwickshire

[The Masked Tulip]

Property S&M? Where is TMT when you need him ?

I got here as soon as I could. What's up?

[The Masked Tulip]

Here it is - http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0146bdy/Generation_E_Life_in_a_Spanish_Ghost_Town/

Off for a bath and will listen to this.

[miko]

However, to answer your question, we still do have lots of empty new-builds . . . the city thru lounge/kitchen/diner/shower/folding sofa-bedroom made out of a modified chinese container is not attracting the £250,000 mortgage that was expected.

You'll find these in lots of Northern, 'regenerated' towns'.

Yes in some parts of the country we do have an over supply of new build one and two bed apartments. The market for these and the prices have dropped. However compared to Spain which had over 1 million empty flats and rising ( a few years ago ) all based around the coast and aimed at the overseas holiday market , our oversupply is small.

[The Masked Tulip]

Yes in some parts of the country we do have an over supply of new build one and two bed apartments. The market for these and the prices have dropped. However compared to Spain which had over 1 million empty flats and rising ( a few years ago ) all based around the coast and aimed at the overseas holiday market , our oversupply is small.

Maybe we should just go and live there. All part of the EU, etc.

[miko]

Maybe we should just go and live there. All part of the EU, etc.

Only if you can afford to live there without working , there is little work in Spain especially in the areas where these have been built.