Comments on: Housing market: what is your prediction?

By: Adam

Adam — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 10:26:17 +0000

I feel we are at the bottom and showing signs of recovery. There are fewer homes for sale and lots more sold boards are appearing. With too few homes coming onto the market to satisfy current demand we are likely to see prices edge upwards towards the end of the year. I recall not 12 months ago predictions that the UK housing market would never recover - what stupidity. Now a few journalists are losing their jobs - talking the market down is slowing - great news.

By: B Webster Removals

B Webster Removals — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:27:29 +0000

Although signs are looking more positive with a ’spring rebound’ I cannot help but think it’s all too premature - surely we will be deep into recession for at least another 6-12 months? I certainly don’t think people who are desperate to sell their houses should un-cross their fingers any time this summer. My guess would be a 15-20% further drop in prices.

By: Jacko

Jacko — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 08:28:31 +0000

The earliest time for a confirmed recovery will be Spring 2010. The housing market typically slows each year during Q4 due to seasonality (even in boom) so a recovery by late Summer 2009 in the current economic climate is extremely optimistic. Banks should start to pass on slightly lower rates in Q4 than what we are currently seeing given the low BOE interest rate which will encourage a more visible recovery in early 2010 as consumers take advantage a these slightly better deals. 15% - 20% drop to go this year.

By: Realistic

Realistic — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 09:31:48 +0000

What some of you seem to over look when hoping for a 90% fall in property prices is that if this does indeed happen (which it wont) we will all be out of work and living in armagedon, look at what has happend so far with falls of 20%. This economy is directly impacted by the housing market, so just be carful what you wish for.
Oh and as for my crystal ball, its telling me that prices will stop falling late summer this year!!

By: bengt saelensminde

bengt saelensminde — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 20:06:55 +0000

This talk of hoping the market falls 70%, rather than say 50%, so you can buy at the best price misses one fundamental point. When the market falls to 50%, how will you know to wait for the further fall? You will likely buy in before the trough, or else after it (thinking things can only get worse). I think that most people will buy in too early, bear markets, as bull, go on much longer than you think. The important factor that hasn’t been mentioned is in/deflation. Deflation will exacerbate falls, and inflation will make them look less severe.

For me, I’m assuming deflation for a couple of years, so lets say a fall of 15% for each year will be reasonable. When inflation comes (as it inevitably will given the propensity of the banks to create money) the nominal value of houses will start to rise, as the real value continues to fall for many years.

Lol for the bottom-fishers

By: STW

STW — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 12:53:37 +0000

If all this talk of a re-run of the 30’s depression comes to pass surely all bets on house price falls are off. We could easily be looking at 90% discounts or about the same level as the drop in bank capitalisations over the past 18 months which seems logical since they own an ever rising proportion of the equity in properties?

By: AV

AV — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 13:45:23 +0000

The market crashes when some thing is taken away (tax, confidence) now all the money that we have been force fed for years has gone our gread will now eat us. when it stop going down, say end of next finincal year, we will be living in the real world again, no more “live like the beckhams” house prices down buy 50 % from this time last year. no more buy to lets just homes it live in.

By: nick

nick — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:16:55 +0000

Look on the bright side. No more idiotic DIY home programmes about how to increase the value of your home by £10 grand by fitting a new lightbulb and doing the hoovering.

By: p odonnell

p odonnell — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 13:01:33 +0000

ive said it has to be 50%, the estate agent who we rent our offices from gets very angry with me!!!
we now dont have a conversation anymore!

By: stephen cole

stephen cole — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 11:28:48 +0000

Ask Mystic Meg or a group of Capuchin Monkeys.