When do you think house prices will hit the bottom of the market?

Another 2 - 3 years falling, then a long period of stagnation as the nation's thinking and finances re-adjust, before a gradual rise back to last year's levels - I'm in agreement with the c.2018 pundits.

In comparison with late 80s onwards, things seem much worse this time around, with the levels of personal debt and banking problems and the fact that houses were priced out of the sensible reach of so many. We have lost our council housing stock and tenants of the BTL chancers are now under threat through no fault of their own. There are so many contributory factors that need correcting before this downturn is halted.

At the moment the govt seems to be increasing the threat to the economy. There's not much optimism in response to this week's announcement and the banks are ignoring attempts to manipulate them.

We're in it for the long haul.

Did predict june 2009 but things are getting worse and could be worse than even the doomsdayers were saying a couple of weeks ago, so now Last quarter 2009 they should be close to the bottom. after some very heavy falls in next fews months.

poppy10 wrote: »

Erm... because we have just entered a recession? Because companies are shedding jobs left right and centre, and are unlikely to want to pay more for the ones they decide to keep on?

In such a small minority, in such a small minority.

I bet your bottom dollar, the hundreds of thousands of workers in the Armed forces, NHS, police, fire brigades, councils and all those employed where the country has no choice and cannot do without (Lorry drivers, train drivers, pilots, engineers, and so on and on) all receive annual inflation pay increases next year.

The average salary will continue to rise, a rise in unemployment will have absolutely no bearing on the figures.

Your point is about small and underperforming companies, that is all. When there are no soldiers, nurses, doctors, firemen and policemen left on the streets, i may take a little notice

mitchaa wrote: »

In such a small minority, in such a small minority.

I bet your bottom dollar, the hundreds of thousands of workers in the Armed forces, NHS, police, fire brigades, councils and all those employed where the country has no choice and cannot do without (Lorry drivers, train drivers, pilots, engineers, and so on and on) all receive annual inflation pay increases next year.

The average salary will continue to rise, a rise in unemployment will have absolutely no bearing on the figures.

Your point is about small and underperforming companies, that is all. When there are no soldiers, nurses, doctors, firemen and policemen left on the streets, i may take a little notice

Soldiers, nurses, doctors, firemen and policemen are paid for by tax payers. Tax payers include the above but also the private sector! If the private sector struggles then of course funding for those people will be restricted, now whether that will be by not replacing workers who retire at the same rate, not being able to fund pay rises, expecting people to work harder for their wage or by actual job cuts we cannot know yet, but it seems fairly obvious that our public sector will struggle if there are widespread issues in private sector. Which I belive there are. And not just in small undrperforming companies either! After all, the banks are hardly small, and t big chains in the news aren't tiny. The small companies ar the ones that close without a whisper in the news.

Pilots must be noticing: with the cheap airlines having cut 20% of european routes (I think that was the stat) someone isn't flying as much as thy used to. The 'better' airlines are struggling too. With the pound going less far I wonder what holiday routes will do next year and in our experience business travel is being cut down on. Anecdotally, DH hasn't been on a plane in this seat AT ALL, despite having to get some tricky visas, the last junior in this role flew to Russia and back almost every week! As less sells won't there be less to transport? (by lorry etc?).