The bears have lost here - so they're infecting the House Buying forum

System

Cleaver wrote: »

Brit's argument is extreme, but it's his opinion and I'm sure it's worthwhile to someone. Even if it makes someone think twice about whether a house purchase is right for them and they still go ahead, it contributed.

.

My only issue is, what if such an extreme opinion is wrong (given his track record it seems quite probable), how many people will have seen that advice and screwed themselves over because of it.

I'd never go into a thread about someone buying a house and say "house prices are going to double in 10 years quick buy now!" for the same reason.

Graham_Devon

Joeskeppi wrote: »

My only issue is, what if such an extreme opinion is wrong (given his track record it seems quite probable), how many people will have seen that advice and screwed themselves over because of it.

I'd never go into a thread about someone buying a house and say "house prices are going to double in 10 years quick buy now!" for the same reason.

If someone has made a financial commitment, based on a singular outspoken person on a forum, then more fool them.

You asked how many people....

I'd guess, absolutely zero. So don't worry yourself!

Cleaver

Joeskeppi wrote: »

My only issue is, what if such an extreme opinion is wrong (given his track record it seems quite probable), how many people will have seen that advice and screwed themselves over because of it.

It may sound harsh, but it's their problem if they decided to base a massive decision on what some rather strange individual with dodgy size fonts posts on an internet forum.

I tend to think of the advice from a forum being one small (yet useful) piece in a jigsaw. The 'Jigsaw of Opinion', if you will. Ask your friends and family, consult the net, read the articles, look at your finances, get an 'expert' to look at your finances, ask some loonies on the internet, look at data (quantitative and qualitative) and then decide whether you want to buy something like a house.

I kinda know what you mean in a way - it would be useful for people to know a bit of background on people, but there's nothing we can do about that. I think most of the regulars on here know that Brit will never buy a house, partly because he seems very, very risk averse and I doubt that he will ever take the leap whatever the price and also because I think, deep down, he enjoys talking about house prices on a load of forums too much to ever now buy a house. I'm sure if he did buy a house (and maybe he already has) he certainly wouldn't let any of us know.

Cleaver

Graham_Devon wrote: »

If someone has made a financial commitment, based on a singular outspoken person on a forum, then more fool them.

I haven't made a financial decision based on one person, but in tribute to you Graham I do now use the phrase, "but where's the money going to come from?" on pretty much a daily basis, both in my home and work life.

System

Fair points, well made. I still think it's irresponsible to peddle outrageous opinions as fact though

JonnyBravo

Cleaver wrote: »

I tend to think of the advice from a forum being one small (yet useful) piece in a jigsaw. The 'Jigsaw of Opinion', if you will.

Is it a picture of a monkey? :rolleyes:

chucky

Cleaver wrote: »

Brit's argument is extreme, but it's his opinion and I'm sure it's worthwhile to someone. Even if it makes someone think twice about whether a house purchase is right for them and they still go ahead, it contributed.

and his posts are quite frequently factually incorrect - it's passionate but that doesn't mean it's accurate

Cleaver wrote: »

I've said this a million times before, but there are people on here that are very articulate and intelligent

yes - thanks for the compliment :T

Cleaver wrote: »

You may have noticed I'm in a bit of a waffley mood today...

yes please stop now

b0rker

mr_fishbulb wrote: »

Same way as I feel about this forum.

When monthly statistics come out supporting one side's viewpoint, there is lots of :beer:ing and :jing. With lots of :rolleyes:ing from the enemy. Well done - You've managed to randomly pick the correct side in something no one could have honestly say they predicted all events. And then try and wind the other lot up with lots of :rotfl:s and :Ts. Childish.

Great post.

misskool

Generali wrote: »

TBH people are much nicer to me for thinking house prices are likely to fall in the future in the UK than they were 4 years back. Then I was the world's biggest moron and people were really very abusive to me in many cases.

A girl at work (UBS) told me she was going to buy a house, do it up and sell it. I said, "That's interesting. What would you do if prices fell between when you buy and when you sell?"

She wouldn't talk to me for days.

Sounds like a girl at work. She hasn't got a permanent job, her partner has just had an inheritance and the third party is her mother's boyfriend. The flat they are in the process of buying is an 'investment' for them to get on the property ladder. Trying to tell how ridiculous her decision for her life at that point in time is impossible.

Davesnave

Graham_Devon wrote: »

This whole thread is much a-do about absolutely nothing. Someone asked a question, got an answer, and the reason for that answer. Someone else saw a chance to start an argument with a poster they didn't agree with, and here we are, making pointless analogies to justify the reason for someone offering their opinion to another person who had asked for it.

Good post.

Nollag used emotive language here and then, like all good mischief makers, disappeared to watch from a safe distance. I posted as I did in reply, because those were the exact words used in Whitehall many years ago when someone wrote to a Minister with an obvious wind-up rant.

I only worked in Whitehall for 15 months. As a job, it was carp.