What is meant by 'missing the boat'

ad9898_3

It's a cliche that pops up on this board now and again, mostly by the odd bull who has felt the wind beneath his/her wings with the odd rise in one of the indices, it also does the rounds on other boards, or in response to certain articles if you have the chance to post a comment at the bottom of them.

But I'm at a loss to what it means ?, I take it is aimed at people who are waiting for the bottom of the market but then fail to see when it has passed them by, but can it really happen ? In the last crash prices stagnated for a period of years and when HPI finally did raise its ugly head, it was very mild for 3-4 years.

If this is the bottom (no chance really), then prices are very likely to stay at this level, give or take the odd percentage point either way, for many years, so how is it possible to miss the bottom, if you have the funds, the credit rating and a job ?

It's seems to me that it's really used as a nasty comment made by people who through age and a bit of luck jumped into the market at the right time, and enjoy rubbing other peoples noses in the fact they have made a few quid from doing nothing.

pickles110564

ad9898 wrote: »

If this is the bottom (no chance really), then prices are very likely to stay at this level, give or take the odd percentage point either way, for many years, so how is it possible to miss the bottom, if you have the funds, the credit rating and a job ?

ad, houses are selling again and prices according to the unbiased (halliwide) are rising. No-0ne knows what is happening at the moment and I guess time will tell if people have missed the boat.

themanbearpig

pickles110564 wrote: »

ad, houses are selling again and prices according to the unbiased (halliwide) are rising. No-0ne knows what is happening at the moment and I guess time will tell if people have missed the boat.

What boat??

Do you believe that the implausible v-shaped recovery is going to occur?
This time it's different, right?

ad9898_3

pickles110564 wrote: »

ad, houses are selling again and prices according to the unbiased (halliwide) are rising. No-0ne knows what is happening at the moment and I guess time will tell if people have missed the boat.

Mmmmm, well I'm not going to argue with the figures, although I would point out that the Halifax are painting a slightly different picture than the Nationwide at the moment, and even though I agree houses have been selling a little more of recent, after all it is Spring, all the ones that are selling have had their prices slashed significantly.

Just to point out though, I don't think anyone has missed the boat, it's not even on the horizon yet, I was just asking what people meant by it, as with the very nature of a housing market crash, prices bobble along the bottom for some years.

For instance I have considerable savings, good credit and a good job that I have had for many years, so unless prices go up say 20% in the time it takes for me to look at a house and put an offer in (about 1 hour), how can a boat be missed ?

lynzpower

"missing the boat" theres something about that phrase isnt there?

The boat saling off into the sunset leaving you alone to ponder where that boat could have gone with you on board. But alas you didnt, you lonely old fool stood there waiting too long....

Its a really patronising phrase when I think about it!

amcluesent

I believe 'missing the boat' refers to the fools who stayed behind in Clown's broken, busted England rather than join the 2,000,000 who have wisely fled these shores since 1997.

Jennifer_Jane

lynzpower wrote: »

"missing the boat" theres something about that phrase isnt there?

The boat saling off into the sunset leaving you alone to ponder where that boat could have gone with you on board. But alas you didnt, you lonely old fool stood there waiting too long....

Its a really patronising phrase when I think about it!

Unless it was the Titanic you were missing! I've 'missed the boat' so many times in my life in various ways, some (most) were my fault, and other times belonged to circumstances or other people.

I think it happens to us all at one time or another.

There's a phrase in South Africa - 'Moenie worry nie' (surprisingly, this translates to 'Don't worry'!

Jen
x

StevieJ

ad9898 wrote: »

Mmmmm, well I'm not going to argue with the figures, although I would point out that the Halifax are painting a slightly different picture than the Nationwide at the moment, and even though I agree houses have been selling a little more of recent, after all it is Spring, all the ones that are selling have had their prices slashed significantly.

?

This is exactly why I don't believe in seasonal adjustments to the figures, the figures are
adjusted for Spring quarter and the public then adjust them again by saying things like
'after all it is Spring' BTW missing the means you turn up late for your boat/ferry and it has gone :eek:

olly300

amcluesent wrote: »

I believe 'missing the boat' refers to the fools who stayed behind in Clown's broken, busted England rather than join the 2,000,000 who have wisely fled these shores since 1997.

I left and the came back.

The grass isn't always greener you know.

ad9898_3

StevieJ wrote: »

This is exactly why I don't believe in seasonal adjustments to the figures, the figures are
adjusted for Spring quarter and the public then adjust them again by saying things like
'after all it is Spring' BTW missing the means you turn up late for your boat/ferry and it has gone :eek:

No Steve, I'm not saying 'oh it's Spring so the figures are bound to say that aren't they', I only mentioned Spring because this is the best time of the year for the housing market whether we are in boom, bust or stagnation, I never mention Spring adjusted figures or whatever they are, because to be honest I have no idea what the seasonal adjustment is in any given month anyway.

As for your your 'boat/ferry quote', I understand that, as I catch ferries quite often, you generally have a 45 min check in tolerance, now that is a boat that can easily be missed I grant you, but if the boat is in dock for 5 years+, I'd be very surprised that anyone who is capable of catching it, can't get on.

mewbie_2

It's derived from the Greek - mistres botus. The expression was used to describe slaves released from their bondage - this might happen after long service, or a good deed performed, or occasionally by certain other 'services' offered. The slavery system was built around impossible to service debts, keeping the slaves forever trying to pay back their masters.

This is why mistres botus, changed through the ages to "missing the boat", is mistakenly used by the insanely indebted to describe those fortunate modern souls who have avoided the folly of enslaving themselves voluntarily to an impossible to service mortgage.