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Debate House Prices


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Apathy?

My half brothers wife has just reduced her hours from 5 days a week to 3 days a week. She wants to spend more time at home now that outgoings are not as high.

They have a mortgage, and from what dads been told, they are paying about a third of what they used to.

So she's reducing hours. Which although nice for the family I'd guess, and can definately see the reasoning, surely is a major gamble, as interest rates on their mortgage can go up just as fast, leaving them in a precarious position. She's not in a job where she can just up her hours again, she's having to actually change roles.

Is this something that others are finding, or is it just a one off case? Are people literally adjusting more permanently to lower mortgage costs?
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Comments

  • Conrad
    Conrad Posts: 33,137 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker

    Are people literally adjusting more permanently to lower mortgage costs?


    Graham - as I've always said to you - life is a risk - some of us just accept this, others avoid all risk.

    In the end most of us do not get repossessed, I think this is the key point and what we bass our life choices on.
  • chewmylegoff
    chewmylegoff Posts: 11,469 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    i am struggling to understand why this is "apathy"?
  • ess0two
    ess0two Posts: 3,606 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Why don't you ask your bro?he may have just signed up to low fixed rate,Britannia are doing 5.29% for 10yrs.
    At that rate you can afford to make life choices to which you have posted.
    Official MR B fan club,dont go............................
  • maveli
    maveli Posts: 590 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    It will be a big shock to me when IR goes up. I used to pay £580.00/month and now I pay £71.00/month. The big luxury we took is OH resigned from job and looking after the kids. Kids are very happy now. I can't imagine they coping well if she goes back to work.
  • purch
    purch Posts: 9,865 Forumite
    i am struggling to understand why this is "apathy"?

    Apparantly not having an intense interest in the minutae of House Prices and Mortgage Costs on a second by second basis, counts as 'Apathy' :eek:
    'In nature, there are neither rewards nor punishments - there are Consequences.'
  • Graham_Devon
    Graham_Devon Posts: 58,560 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    i am struggling to understand why this is "apathy"?

    The decision is based mainly on the mortgage payment at the moment, as it's about a 3rd.

    I was wondering whether this was a wider scenario, with people adjusting to paying lower mortgages and maybe making commitments based on current outgoings?

    I did realise this would cause some stupid remarks when I wrote this thread, but it's a serious question. Personally I have got used to paying a lot less for mine.
  • chewmylegoff
    chewmylegoff Posts: 11,469 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    The decision is based mainly on the mortgage payment at the moment, as it's about a 3rd.

    I was wondering whether this was a wider scenario, with people adjusting to paying lower mortgages and maybe making commitments based on current outgoings?

    I did realise this would cause some stupid remarks when I wrote this thread, but it's a serious question. Personally I have got used to paying a lot less for mine.

    it's not really apathetic then is it, it's a decision based on current costs. presumably if the mortgage payment increases three-fold, she will respond by attempting to get a full time job paying more money.
  • Harry_Powell
    Harry_Powell Posts: 2,089 Forumite
    I find it difficult to believe that your brother's uncle's sister's boyfriend (or whoever it is this time) is basing her decision to reduce her working hours purely because her mortgage rate has fallen.

    Good try though Graham. :)
    "I can hear you whisperin', children, so I know you're down there. I can feel myself gettin' awful mad. I'm out of patience, children. I'm coming to find you now." - Harry Powell, Night of the Hunter, 1955.
  • kennyboy66_2
    kennyboy66_2 Posts: 2,598 Forumite
    Perhaps she will spend 2 days a week on here !
    US housing: it's not a bubble

    Moneyweek, December 2005
  • HAMISH_MCTAVISH
    HAMISH_MCTAVISH Posts: 28,592 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    The decision is based mainly on the mortgage payment at the moment, as it's about a 3rd.
    .

    So two thirds of their mortgage payment was covered by 2 days a week of just one of their salaries.....

    I'm not seeing the problem.;)
    “The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie – deliberate, contrived, and dishonest – but the myth, persistent, persuasive, and unrealistic.

    Belief in myths allows the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.”

    -- President John F. Kennedy”
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