Selfish Britain

DervProf

macaque wrote: »

20 years ago, when people were poorer, this would have been front page news week after week. Today however, such news is squeezed out by headlines on house prices.

People welcome mass immigration if they think it will push up house prices. They don't give two hoots that young families are forced to live in undersized accomodation if this is the result of high house prices. Instead they lecture us on how tough it was for them to 'get on the housing ladder' (when prices were 3X income instead of 6X). Home owners would kill their own grandmothers if they thought it might push house prices up.

The phrase 'affordable housing' is a hypocrisy invented by people who are saying 'I care passionately about social issues so as long as they don't affect the value of my home'. Baby boomers have become the selfish generation. They give £2 a month to saving children in Africa and don't give a fig about the plight of school leavers on their own doorstep.

Good post, and I think we know a few people that post on this forum who "don't give two hoots that young families are forced to live in undersized accomodation if this is the result of high house prices" (:beer:).

In fact, they positively encourage people to "get on the ladder", thus helping the madness to continue.

In a way, their advice is quite sensible, but I think it is often being given with self-interest in mind, rather than a genuine act of being helpful.

DervProf

Sibley wrote: »

I suppose you would want your house to lose 50% of it's value then?

Well, if you had one that is. I promise you once your names on a set of deeds you will be happy it rises. I do care about other people being priced out but I care about my retirement and family more. Sorry an all that.

See what I mean ?

bengalknights

I would love for house prices to drop 50% as then the house price more than mine would be within reach, the only downside would be to those who are just begining there mortgages and would be in negative equity.

DervProf

bengalknights wrote: »

I would love for house prices to drop 50% as then the house price more than mine would be within reach, the only downside would be to those who are just begining there mortgages and would be in negative equity.

So the majority would be no worse off, or better off. The minority (those who had recently bought property) would be in NE.

What a ridiculous suggestion !

andykn

macaque wrote: »

20 years ago, when people were poorer, this would have been front page news week after week. Today however, such news is squeezed out by headlines on house prices.

http://www.24dash.com/news/communities/2010-12-02-UKs-young-jobless-total-among-worst-in-Europe-research

Not much of a headline is it? Not total jobless, not worst.

And can you find any headlines on house prices for 2nd Dec?

macaque_2

andykn wrote: »

Not much of a headline is it? Not total jobless, not worst.

And can you find any headlines on house prices for 2nd Dec?

House price headlines for the 2nd of December? Yes!

And please don't tell me that this is not a nation obsessed with the value of their homes.

http://moneyfacts.co.uk/news/mortgages/loosen-the-housing-purse-strings-provider-urged/

http://www.buckinghamshireadvertiser.co.uk/south-buckinghamshire-news/local-buckinghamshire-advertiser-news/2010/12/02/affluent-beaconsfield-now-home-to-rich-and-famous-82398-27756433/

http://www.mortgagestrategy.co.uk/economy/naea-hits-out-at-self-serving-lenders/1023048.article

http://www.propertywire.com/news/europe/uk-2011-property-outlook-201012024739.html

http://www.thecourier.co.uk/News/article/8240/arbroath-s-house-prices-defy-trend.html

http://www.walletpop.co.uk/2010/12/02/house-prices-fall-40-a-day-in-november/

http://www.negotiator-magazine.co.uk/article/house-prices-fall-0.3percent-1579

http://www.londonderrysentinel.co.uk/news/House-prices-rise-just-692.6647865.jp

http://www.mortgagestrategy.co.uk/economy/house-price-drops-not-as-severe-as-previous-years/1023031.article

http://www.propertywire.com/news/europe/-nationwide-november-property-index-201012024737.html

http://www.newsontheblock.com/news-and-opinion/12717/land-registryand39s-house-price-index-october-prices-down-from-a-month-earlier.thtml

http://www.ftadviser.com/FTAdviser/Mortgages/News/article/20101202/a01a6c7a-fdfc-11df-b4ec-00144f2af8e8/London-house-prices-to-defy-decline-and-rise-5.jsp

http://www.24dash.com/news/housing/2010-12-02-London-house-prices-to-rise-by-2-in-2011

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2010/dec/02/cashpoints-house-price-declines

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/business/business-news/property-gains-wiped-out-by-slide-in-prices-15019427.html

http://www.introducertoday.co.uk/News/Story/?storyid=3738&type=news_features

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1334612/House-prices-fall-wiping-gains-year.html

http://www.cityam.com/news-and-analysis/house-prices-down-39-cent-june

http://www.ftadviser.com/FinancialAdviser/Mortgages/News/article/20101202/b33356aa-f947-11df-a7a2-00144f2af8e8/Mortgage-lending-in-Scotland-remains-subdued-CML.jsp

http://www.ftadviser.com/FinancialAdviser/Mortgages/Lenders/News/article/20101202/ec6d81e0-fba2-11df-a910-00144f2af8e8/Mortgages-down-as-house-prices-drop.jsp

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/house-prices-slip-again-as-buyers-go-missing-2148716.html

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/comment/david-prosser-the-biggest-house-price-falls-are-now-behind-us-2148712.html

ukcarper

Not much about house prices in that article. Perhaps if you were more concerned about the plight of the young unemployed instead of house prices you might be able to offer some good suggestions to help solve the problem.

myhouse_2

Sibley wrote: »

I suppose you would want your house to lose 50% of it's value then?

Well, if you had one that is. I promise you once your names on a set of deeds you will be happy it rises. I do care about other people being priced out but I care about my retirement and family more. Sorry an all that.

This is the problem - the OP suggests we're now selfish, but truth is, we've all always been selfish. Few would blame you for caring about your own circumstances. There are 2 problems though - if you're house price rises excessively, it's the next generation, i.e. your children who have to pay for it. But of course people never actually think a generation ahead.
The 2nd problem is that while individuals may well be selfish, it's really the government (and BoE) who have let house prices run out of control. People might be selfish, but if govt doesn't really care enough to rein that selfishness in, then it becomes a problem

1984ReturnsForReal_2

myhouse wrote: »

but truth is, we've all always been selfish.

Not true & therefore is just an excuse.

nearlynew

bengalknights wrote: »

I would love for house prices to drop 50% as then the house price more than mine would be within reach, the only downside would be to those who are just begining there mortgages and would be in negative equity.

That's tough, but it's the way it should be if we want a healthy, functioning economy.