Are house prices now affordable

sjaypink

No

Idiophreak wrote: »

If the question is "can mr average afford the average house", that's quite an easy one to work out, but not of too much value either.

i dont understand why it is not valuable to assess that? surely when average wage and average hp match up- that indicates affordability across the market? (those earning less than averge buy smaller properties in less desirable areas- priced below the average hp, those earning above average buy above average)

in answer to the question, in my area, no. average price is still £210k ish i think, and wages are far lower (on average) here too. i think in some areas though prices have become affordable.... everyone will have a different opinion depending on where they live

Graham_Devon

No

sjaypink wrote: »

i dont understand why it is not valuable to assess that? surely when average wage and average hp match up- that indicates affordability across the market? (those earning less than averge buy smaller properties in less desirable areas- priced below the average hp, those earning above average buy above average)

in answer to the question, in my area, no. average price is still £210k ish i think, and wages are far lower (on average) here too. i think in some areas though prices have become affordable.... everyone will have a different opinion depending on where they live

uh ho! Hello trouble!

Really2

Graham_Devon wrote: »

Then you can answer. You believe yes.

There is no such thing as "don't know" when your asking for no conditions attached, as that automatically means you are attaching conditions.

When Yougov send out a poll, they ask you "do you think David Cameron is doing a good job". Next Question is "do you think Gordon Brown is doing a good job".

It does not apply conditions to try and condition your answer. It also does not have a bias, it is JUST asking your opinion. So this is nothing to do with Bears and Bulls.

I just cannot believe what I am seeing all over, not only this forum, but in the media etc about house prices now having reached affordability, so I wanted to gauge others opinions.

Simple poll, for a simple result.

I won't clarify the poll anymore from here on in as it will just be a thread of me clarifying the most simple of questions every 2 posts!

I really don't know if housing is affordable for the masses I like to be precise on answers Graham.

they are affordable where i live but not in the SE so how could I say yes.
They may be affordable for owners.

Sorry I abstain as I can't give a true answer.

You need to improve your Poll questions both are leading questions.

True Poll with non leading question would be

In your current situation do you think houses are?

Affordable
Unaffordable
Not Sure.(this gives an idea of how many took the poll but basicaly abstained)

If you did sociology you would learn about fair polls and leading questions
By saying are they affordable is giving a bias:)

sjaypink

No

Graham_Devon wrote: »

uh ho! Hello trouble!

:hello: what a welcome eh :rolleyes:

btw, anyone know where to find av wages region by region, rather than national figures?

Idiophreak

Yes

sjaypink wrote: »

i dont understand why it is not valuable to assess that? surely when average wage and average hp match up- that indicates affordability across the market? (those earning less than averge buy smaller properties in less desirable areas- priced below the average hp, those earning above average buy above average)

Don't view it as useful because it rather assumes that there's no rental market, no ftb schemes, no inheritance tax...in fact none of *any* of the other factors that effect house prices besides people's wages...

chucky

sjaypink wrote: »

:hello: what a welcome eh :rolleyes:

btw, anyone know where to find av wages region by region, rather than national figures?

gives you a break down by male/female and even by regions/cities
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_labour/ASHE_2008/tab7_7a.xls

sjaypink

No

Idiophreak wrote: »

Don't view it as useful because it rather assumes that there's no rental market, no ftb schemes, no inheritance tax...in fact none of *any* of the other factors that effect house prices besides people's wages...

but for every factor that makes housing less affordable for 1 person, there are (i believe) relatively equal factors that means it will be more affordable for another?

i think, for a general overview, the averages are useful

Really2

Graham,

I have posted a new poll for you and have made it anonymous.

It takes out some of the don't know as it is based on personal circumstance.

I will give you the credit for it though

sjaypink

No

chucky wrote: »

gives you a break down by male/female and even by regions/cities
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_labour/ASHE_2008/tab7_7a.xls

thanks, very interesting....

.....and, i can now say with some certainty, very unaffordable :cool:

Idiophreak

Yes

sjaypink wrote: »

but for every factor that makes housing less affordable for 1 person, there are (i believe) relatively equal factors that means it will be more affordable for another?

i think, for a general overview, the averages are useful

I couldn't say - I couldn't list all of the factors involved (or anything like it) and I can't say how much any of them actually alters house prices. I wouldn't be even remotely confident that the "increasers" and "decreasers" balance out, so as I said, I don't see much value in the statistic (in isolation, I can perhaps appreciate some value over time, as a measure).

Things like average time on the market, number of mortgages issued etc, I can see as being more useful in terms of evaluating affordability. If people are buying, they can clearly afford to - but then you ask the question "were houses really affordable in 2007?" Plenty of people were buying them still...

Affordability's all very difficult