House prices

[dulwichgirl2]

Is anyone else looking? If so what are you finding? I had expected the market to be crazy post the summer slow down but apparently not. It is still slow which I find hopeful for those of us looking to buy. It avoids the viewing follows by pressure to offer situation that sends me in the opposite direction. Any similar or different views?

[the-e-dealer]

What are you trying to buy?

[Huguenot]

dulwichgirl2 spends a disproportionate percentage of her presence on the forum lining up estate agency sales pitches masked as 'honest enquiries'.

This is a typical example, where she suggests that a surprisingly 'slow' market means there are bargains to be had.

In other posts she goes on about how exchange rates make now the perfect opportunity, how other investments are rubbish compared to real estate, how rental returns are amazing.

And so on ad nauseam.

[the-e-dealer]

I asked as I'd like to sell without the Estate Agent getting their crazy fee.

[dulwichgirl2]

H, you sound like my husband whose outlook on house prices is negative. He has been convinced central london and increasingly ED, has been overpriced for some years now. I, otoh, don't see bargains around but think property in this area is still a good long term bet. I cannot cope with estate agents' immediate pressure once you see somewhere and their insistence that if you don't offer now, you will "miss out".

To answer your query, E-dealer, I would love to get a two bed flat, originally looking only in ED and now all the way down the East London line stops.

It does seem the market is slower. Whether this means bargains is completely another story.

[dulwichgirl2]

Comp agree. Where roughly is your flat, e-dealer?

[the-e-dealer]

I don't have a flat.

[Jeremy]

It's not slow. But a think a lot of agents have overvalued places, which isn't helping. A lot of houses being reduced...

[Huguenot]

It's not that dulwichgirl2, but your constant posting on the subject of house buying, and what great opportunities there are to be had right now, makes me sometimes suspect you're a shill?

You often ask 'questions' about seemingly straightforward property issues, and then reveal you already knew the answer.

Let's face it, you know the price per square foot of every zone in South London, and then demonstrate this faux naivety to prompt other people to tell what you already know.

You know rental yields, the comparative impact and value of renovation works, how to negotiate insurance, stamp duty and find the best builders and get the right yield.

So why do you keep on asking these 'questions'?

[dulwichgirl2]

You flatter me, H.

If I know anything at all, I know that prices can change and that unfort the last is not an indicator of the future, hence a lot of my queries.

My biggest query right now and one on which my husband and I differ, is what happens when the foreign money leaves london. My assumption is tht it is indirectly propping up ED. Once it is repatriated, what happens? Does the entire effect reverse, as per my husband's view? I would say no - others will come in as there is a lot of demand other than eg eurozone panickers.

Jeremy, I tend to agree.

[Voyageur]

Tend to agree with Huge - estate agent trying to drum up business in a clumsily transparent way..

[dulwichgirl2]

I give up. I don't think it is indicative of being an estate agent to have a view on and be interested in house prices. I am not an estate agent or anyone involved in any property business. I want to buy a flat and don't want to buy at the wrong point if I can avoid it.

If anyone else wants to comment on the point of the thread, great. If not and all you want to do is discuss my non job as an estate agent, I will ignore your commentary. I have stated and repeat that I have nothing to do with property as a business.

[Huguenot]

You talk about foreign money as if it were one binary issue - i.e. it's either here or it's not.

It's a silly way to look at it.

It's thousands of different individuals from tens of countries all with differing economic conditions and outlooks. It's not either in or out. There isn't going to be some sudden change that makes it all pull out.

Not only that, but it's not the only driving market mechanism.

Just forget about it, I would have thought that the last 15 years would have taught you one thing: that speculating on property is a matter of luck not judgement, and if you cannot afford to lose then you can't afford to bet.

If you want a second or third flat as a long term investment then fine, but if you want to speculate in order to rip off some unsuspecting child of their future to pay for a fast car and overseas holidays then that's not very bright or responsible.

You're obsession with making a fortune off houses has not only been discredited, it's been found morally unsound.

[zeban]

I have to say dulwichgirl, your constant threads about buying up property, what the market is doing, making investments etc makes me sick to the stomach and kind of depressed. You talk as if everyone on this forum has so much damn money and all own at least one property- well we don't! I'm sick of people seeing property as an investment instead of a home. Many of my generation will probably never be able to buy a property and the way things are going are being completely priced out of the rental market too so where does that leave us? I just want a bloody roof over my head, not an investment! I know I don't have to read the thread so I shouldn't complain, plus I suppose your slight obsession with it is mirrored in the media but honestly, give it a rest!

[Mick Mac]

Give the girl a break H. Personally I find it interesting.

[????]

I'm with Huge. I find the topic interesting too MM but Dg seems to start a thread on this weekl. There are plenty of old threads that she could dig out and add to. So I am a little cynical to her motives.

[Mick Mac]

I love girls and I love property. So I love this thread. You can't have too many property threads.

[Mick Mac]

Sarah Beeny is back on C4 btw.

[????]

Sarah Beeney......yum, yum, yum

[MrBen]

It's that husky Frostrup-esque voice, womanly curves and a glint in the eye...what's not to like?

What angle is the Beenmiester peddling this time?

[KalamityKel]

???? Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I'm with Huge. I find the topic interesting too

> MM but Dg seems to start a thread on this weekl.

> There are plenty of old threads that she could dig

> out and add to. So I am a little cynical to her

> motives.

"Dear owner,

We have recieved interest from a client seeking to purchase a house in your street..."

*sighs* no I do not want to sell tyvm. Where would I go?

[red devil]

MrBen Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> It's that husky Frostrup-esque voice, womanly

> curves and a glint in the eye...what's not to

> like?

>

> What angle is the Beenmiester peddling this time?

Don't move, improve.

DG2, we usually only find out with hindsight whether it was a 'good point' to buy property.

If it worries you that much about losing money, buy something where you know you can add value, or move to an area that is 'up and coming', thereby insulating yourself against some losses should prices fall.

You should also remember that most people buy and sell in the same market. So the next property you want to trade up/downsize to, will have risen/fallen as well...

[*Bob*]

I enjoyed her last series enormously - the one where she singlehandedly renovated her enormous country pile.

Scene 1: Sarah, wearing headtorch, scrubbing corner of giant wall with a miniature toothbrush in the dead of night.

Scene 2: Morning. All done, miraculously.

[Mick Mac]

She's a worker, and no mistake.

[red devil]

I saw that too, but give credit where it's due, she did have two large bags under her eyes...