coldel

...and people still buy at the prices they are at - so there is a demand, so the price stays as it is. I remember the 80s/90s and 15% interest rates although it was only at that rate for a month or two before dropping down into single digits once again and remember housing issues. No country is immune to this, it happens everywhere globally (except maybe North Korea!). Prices are not unrealistic as people are buying, they are just unrealistic for a quite a lot of people.

She faniced you!

Interesting post Bock - I would say some of the comments in response to the above were - growth in population is not gradual or linear, it is exponential - people arent homeless, more people than ever are living at home than in their own places - petrol/food/holidays/take aways are all consumables a house is an investment which is why price increases are good - a couple on an average salary can afford a home, its just not in a desireable area where all the people live who earn a high salary...etc. It is going to be a very emotive thread this - I am not saying its not tough for first time buyers, but like Dan said, they are at the bottom of the food chain in house buying terms even if they are on a reasonbable salary because so many other people out there are second or third time buyers with capital to invest.

But the economics of people on above average salaries buying modest property in good central areas doesnt work. Population growth is immense, the available housing isnt matching it, cost of travel is high in the UK which makes central property even more premium. Theres lots of factors involved. I am 40 and my wife and I are going to move next year, we will be living miles away from London with travel costs and child care costs despite good salaries - I have just accepted that as how it has panned out and where we are now. We cannot afford a modest a modest house in a city centre down here in London as we do not already own a big house here worth half a million pounds. So we will get a reasonably good house somewhere further out - we are lucky in that we have a flat already that we invested in to help but even that doesnt get us a house here in zone 3 London. I get your argument marzman, my parents were paying a mortgage of £150 a month on a house worth £300k - when we move next year we will be paying nigh on £2k a month for a £400k house - but then again in 20 years time we will stil be paying £2k on a house worth £3m, its a cycle, so I am trying to look at it positively!

They can't is the straight up answer, unless they are very good jobs. The couple that bought the house next door to us are in their late twenties but one is an officer in the air force and his fiancee is a partner in a law firm so they can afford it. If you are a first time buyer in an average paid job you are buying much further out of London or major cities, but that's life, you can't just buy into a central London house as a first property. Also depends what you call a decent area, you mean in terms of crime stats, country views, transport connections, local high street shops etc.

Lots of people on the property ladder making killings from the price increases - means they can size-up with large deposits (although paying off the remainder is still financially tough) London has lots of micro-climates of property prices, on our road the small 2 bed terraced house next door with no front garden went for £750k, the guy bought it in 2006 for £350k by all accounts.

I wouldnt do it, but then again, good project and fair play to trying something a bit different!

The roads are bizarre in Paris, I hired a car quite a few times when I lived there (and I lived very central) but you get used to it, take your time and just don't lose your cool! For that sort of photography you need a tripod and a DSLR and you are away - not that hard once you know a few basics.

Good work fella, Paris is amazing at dawn around 5am, I used to get up and cycle around in the morning before everyone else and take photos... Actually this has inspired me, when I get the next car going to do something similar!

haha saw your facebook post earlier about insurance and thought nooooooo!

Is that the CD0009 gearbox - I remember looking into these when I owned a Zed, apparently these had less issues with the grinding gears and much less synchro mesh issues of the older boxes which are quite clunky (in my opinion, some people like clunky boxes)

The old storm troopers helmet

...by a bizarre stroke of chance, my next door neighbours are having a house party today so popped next door and spotted a familiar face in the room - our very own Hennerz whose other half knows my neighbour. His ginger ninja sold a couple of weeks back and he was updating me on its replacement, a Land Rover Defender!

Titty Ho...

Depends what you class as practical - I had one when it was just me and Becks and was more than practical enough for our needs. If we had Alfie at that time and he was a baby with all the stuff that comes with it, the classification of what I would term practical changes quite drastically!

Nooooo!

...crazy?

As much as I appreciate the numbers, BMWs are just not cars I would look back at once I park up, get out, lock and walk away...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nissan-Skyline-350GT-/131377268623

Chirag dropped you a PM mate Jim "that's London prices baby!"

Cheers Thanks guys, actually realised just now I didn't even stick a price on it so here you go £199,950 Oh and no chain on this one, we live in a different house and the tenants are moving out.

Decided to put our property in north London up for sale - current long term rental tenets (been in there 7 years) moving out in Feb so decided to sell it rather than try rent out again. PM me if you or someone you know is looking and can supply details...in short though its: One bedroom flat in Whetstone N20 10 mins walk to tube and overground connections Own rear garden Own garage ...admin, will leave it to you guys to work out if this is ok as I am not near the flat so cannot do the photo/username!

Ha the supersprint exhaust thread is brilliant - how did I miss that nugget of entertainment!

...and spreading fertilizer

Try getting a modified R33 mate, every Fiesta ST and their dog wanted to race me. When I had the VX no one batted an eyelid (Although probably because they couldn't see me in their mirrors!).