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Short or long fix. Mortgage rste
What do you reckon, looking to clear our mortgage in 10 years. We're considering our options....... All portable deals. 10 year fix 2.5% no fees. 2 year fix 1.5% no fees. 5 year fix 1.9% no fees. Mortgage remaining is around £92k. I would never usually consider a long fix but the reassurance that it can never go up until…
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Government looks to sell HTB loan book
The government is, according to the FT, intending to sell off the HTB loan book to investors worth £7.4bn. The treasury have stated that they will not provide a commentary on the sale of the loan book. Could be an indication that HTB in it's current form is coming to an end. There are also concerns over 38% of those who…
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What extra taxes would you volunteer to pay?
Our resident leftists are always full of great ideas for new taxes to be applied to other people but not to themselves. So let's explore this a bit. What new taxes are you prepared to pay that you don't have to pay now? Propose one. Rules: it has to be one you actually stand a chance of paying. Saying you'd pay a tax on…
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DNA tests can predict intelligence
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2018/03/12/dna-tests-can-predict-intelligence-scientists-show-first-time/ Oh dear! He's not going to be very popular! "Our study identified a large number of genes linked to intelligence. We were also able to predict intelligence in another group using only their DNA." Clearly, fairness…
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Willetts targets the older generations
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/baby-boomers-must-pay-to-fund-their-care-or-inflict-15p-income-tax-rise-on-their-children-lord-a8237371.html Considering research shows that all but the best performing Boomers take out £200k more than they put in, is it time they put it back? There are few of this generaion…
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Economics of offshore wind power
Amazing https://mobile.offshorewind.biz/2018/03/01/ge-unveils-operation-haliade-x-12-mw/ Most critical improvement has been with capacity factors. With 63% CF it means you can power whole nations with offshore wind without any costly and wasteful batteries While I was pro nuclear and pro fossil fuels in the past I've…
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Bournemouth and Poole housing market
Currently trying to purchase a house in poole, however keep being out bidded. However prices actually sold on rightmove are lower than asking prices. What's anyone's experience?
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Concerns over HTB repayment aspect
Having to write to those who took HTB loans to ensure they are aware of the terms of the loan? Seems all too familiar with the Interest Only issues and PPI issues. While the fee's may sound small in comparison to total mortgage costs, the fear is over interest rates increasing at the same time as the repayment of the HTB…
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"Unmortgageable" nearly new homes
Appauling story. Some homes, built in the last decades have become unmortgageable due to spiralling ground rents (where no service is provided) and developers walking away. The clause put in the original sale by Taylor Wimpey was that the ground rent would double every 10 years for 50 years. It seems the "selected"…
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Central issue in politics not Brexit but Housing
This might partly explain why Labour support in London has surged. They are expected to do well in the forthcoming council elections in May
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Is the PM's Housing Policy Stalinist?
Theresa May has just announced the same housing policy as Ed Miliband did in 2015 when he was leader of the opposition. However, The Daily Mail called Miliband a "Stalinist" for it. Under May, it's a "brand new dawn". http://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/presenters/james-obrien/james-obrien-rails-against-newspaper-bias-housing/
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Low productivity in the digital age
A new report from the McKinsey Global Institute have reported on Low Productivity in western economies and why reversing the trend may not be as easy as people think.…
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Would an 80% income tax be reasonable?
For those earning say £500,000 plus could the country charge 80% income tax and what would the result be? Many (most?) the highest earners do so due to a type of 'position monopoly' We grossly award the highest positions and pay penuts to those slightly below them. This is due to human nature. People like to watch read or…
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Tough UK retail market claims high street stores
Amazon and other online shopping channels beginning to have an effect possibly. Longer term a lot of retail jobs could be at risk. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-retail-administrations/tough-uk-retail-market-claims-high-street-stores-toys-r-us-maplin-idUKKCN1GC1M9?il=0
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More bleating from the Guardeeeun
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A change in the way people own property?
Reading an article yesterday got me thinking about whether we are going to see a shift in the way that people own property in the coming years. https://www.theguardian.com/money/2017/dec/29/millennials-set-to-reap-huge-rewards-of-inheritance-boom Due to the rapid increase in house prices over the past two decades, certain…
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The north/south divide
I live in Liverpool where the average 3 bed semi in my area is £120,000 you can move to a pretty decent area and go detached for anything from £200,000+ I am a registered nurse earning roundabout £30k after enhancements. We are not sure what we want to do yet in the next few years. But one option was move down south nearer…
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Its because of Brexit....
Cmon then let's have your bonkers anecdotes that are 'due to Brexit'....
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Rising tide of debt to hit rich countries’ budgets
Clouds on the horizon. https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/923028/world-economic-news-finance-latest-government-debt-OECD-interest-rates
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Market state for selling
Just wondering if I am alone in thinking that the property market in northern home counties where we live (South Beds/Bucks) is dead? We have had the house on the market since early Dec '17 and had one booked viewer who was a no-show. He rebooked and again failed to turn up! And that is basically it. We are with an on-line…
