PaulC72

Our fixed rate has just run our End April, we have gone from a 4.79% to a 5.79% deal fixed again but now for 10 years, not such a bad increase as the 4.79% was at a low level anyway.

Ringpeas

This is a good website, and is updated regularly.

Best Buy Mortgages From UK Mortgage Lenders- London and Country

NACRO

Maybe someone should start a 'scoobynet negative equity thread' for everyone whose 'investment' has gone down the toilet.

As someone who took their profit from the UK housing market 2 years ago I think it's fantastic news. Particularly as I invested in the EU property market with the profit and am currently enjoying equity appreciation of near 100 percent. Can't wait to reinvest it in some UK property repossessed from idiots who can't do their sums properly.

john banks

NACRO, do you have any fears for the EU excluding UK economic outlook? Presently with my house purchase fund, I'm about where I want to be on gold (made superb returns here despite the recent collapse, by luck or skill I'm not sure, I'm really bullish on gold now) and Jap large caps (whilst I've lost a bit, some are seriously well priced and the recent rally has been fun), overexposed to sterling and need to get out leaving only NS&I index linked certificates and 1 year fixed 7% accounts. I need to start buying up a variety of international equities I think - utilities, energy, high dividend stuff so I can avoid the obnoxious tax and inflation we face. I'll be avoiding banks, construction, property etc.

I'm wondering about shorting GBP, but against what... EUR/GBP has already shifted. USD is weak, but I suspect GBP will be weaker. I already have a play on USD with the gold. I see you can long or short USD against a basket, not seen this option with GBP though.

I'd have to be an idiot to not outperform the UK housing market though over the next few years before buying back in...

Interesting leader in today's Moneyweek: "The next 'shock' will be falling prices in Scotland. For months we have had to put up with smug mutterings from north fo the border about how prices are 'resilient' and how the market is somehow 'different' to the English market. But it is all nonsense. Sure, there are legal differences between the Scottish and the English markets, but the drivers - the supply and the price of credit - are exactly the same, so the credit drought will , in the end, have precisely the same effect. And the writing is already on the wall for Scotland. Last year prices rose nicely, but by the last quarter volumes had started to fall off - something that no doubt contributed to one of Scotland's leading estate agents closing down last month."

Even with an official rise in Scotland, over the last 18 months with returns on investments, savings, and the massive monthly saving on renting, I can buy considerably more house than I could have done back then when I sold out.

The Aberdeen bulls had better be careful. Oils shocks have previously ravaged the Aberdeen property markets. Is oil going to $200 or $80... who knows, but a worldwide recession will not bypass Aberdeen.

Northern Ireland is showing some of the fastest falls, so it isn't like we're just going to go back to last year's values IMHO.

NACRO

In my opinion the Eurozone is as vulnerable to the current crisis as anywhere. It's just at a different stage in the cycle and is currently benefiting from the dollar and pounds weakened states.
My plan is to realise Euro assets in time to be able to benefit from the double whammy of weak pound and depressed property prices.

Deep Singh

Nacro, where in the Eurozone did you invest?

NACRO

France and the Netherlands. I'm in the process of realising my assets in France before the bubble bursts having seen growth of over 100 percent in 4 years.

Deep Singh

I thought you said 100% in two years in your post above ie when you exited the UK property market

NACRO

That was the Netherlands increasing by that amount (and still going), I began my exit from the UK property market in 2004 ending late 2006.

PaulC72

I smell something.....