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Debate House Prices


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What it matter about house prices?

124

Comments

  • chucky
    chucky Posts: 15,170 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    DervProf wrote: »
    If you are right, then your investment might well pay off.

    In summary, you aren't really bothered about the value of the place you live in, but you would like the purchase value/rent of the other places you own rise.

    Now that's where the debate/argument begins AFAIAC. I have no issue with someone investing in someone else's business to try to make some money. I do have an issue with buying up property to limit other's ability to buy a place of their own, especially when the lender will look favourably upon those that have already gained equity in their own property. It's dog eat dog as far as business is concerned, but when it comes to a basic need (shelter) I draw the line.
    no-one else wanted (or maybe could of) bought the place off him, so not sure your point is too relevant.

    it's a free market - i came along with an offer, he accepted it and he sold it to me. if someone else had come along with a higher offer they could have bought it but they never did. i was the only one offering. it was in Sept/Oct 2008 so the market was virtually dead.
  • DervProf
    DervProf Posts: 4,035 Forumite
    edited 7 April 2011 at 6:52PM
    It isn't exactly a "free" market is it ?

    It's a market that appears to be highly supported by the banks/government/BoE.

    I am not doubting that property is a good investment, I am questioning if it is really "free".

    If it is not, then FTBers should be protesting, not selling vital organs on the promise that they too can benefit from simply buying a place to live in.
    30 Year Challenge : To be 30 years older. Equity : Don't know, don't care much. Savings : That's asking for ridicule.
  • chucky
    chucky Posts: 15,170 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    DervProf wrote: »
    It isn't exactly a "free" market is it ?

    It's a market that appears to be highly supported by the banks/government/BoE.

    I am not doubting that property is a good investment, I am questioning if it is really "free".
    when i said free, i wasn't talking at macro level. no market is really free. there's regulation and entry criteria like minimum finance etc

    i was referring more to micro level, it's free to anyone to participate in.
  • DervProf
    DervProf Posts: 4,035 Forumite
    A free market, let's take the stock market as an example, is "free" and relatively cheap/easy to invest in. It also isn't a basic requirement for people to have a stake in.

    Property is more fundamental. I think the government should be taking a tighter control (for the benefit of the majority of it's population) of the property market than it does.
    30 Year Challenge : To be 30 years older. Equity : Don't know, don't care much. Savings : That's asking for ridicule.
  • chucky
    chucky Posts: 15,170 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    DervProf wrote: »
    A free market, let's take the stock market as an example, is "free" and relatively cheap/easy to invest in. It also isn't a basic requirement for people to have a stake in.

    Property is more fundamental. I think the government should be taking a tighter control (for the benefit of the majority of it's population) of the property market than it does.
    you're maybe right about the property market - if the government did get involved we might have to take it back to the 1950s when much less people owned property. i'm sure that's not the answer and there is a happy middle ground but i can't see any government doing that.
  • DervProf
    DervProf Posts: 4,035 Forumite
    chucky wrote: »
    you're maybe right about the property market - if the government did get involved we might have to take it back to the 1950s when much less people owned property. i'm sure that's not the answer and there is a happy middle ground but i can't see any government doing that.

    Are you saying that the government didn't get involved ?

    If they did, it went against Blair's mandate, that's for sure.
    30 Year Challenge : To be 30 years older. Equity : Don't know, don't care much. Savings : That's asking for ridicule.
  • chucky
    chucky Posts: 15,170 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    DervProf wrote: »
    Are you saying that the government didn't get involved ?

    If they did, it went against Blair's mandate, that's for sure.
    no of course they got involved - SMI etc...
  • DervProf
    DervProf Posts: 4,035 Forumite
    May I state that I need to leave this discussion now, as I am DESPERATE to shower and get ready to go out. I have enjoyed this encounter and would like to take part in more like it.

    :D
    30 Year Challenge : To be 30 years older. Equity : Don't know, don't care much. Savings : That's asking for ridicule.
  • DervProf
    DervProf Posts: 4,035 Forumite
    Back soon chucky.

    This is what I'm here for. :beer:
    30 Year Challenge : To be 30 years older. Equity : Don't know, don't care much. Savings : That's asking for ridicule.
  • FATBALLZ
    FATBALLZ Posts: 5,146 Forumite
    I care about house prices because I'm hopefully about to buy a house very soon. Once I've done that, my concern will be paying off the mortgage so I have an extra £700-£1000 a month to do nice things with. I can't see that I'd really give a !!!! about prices unless I was to eventually move again.
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