Your hunch is my hunch (and also the hunch of many of the economists/investors like Steve Keen, Mish, and Jim Mellon who predicted the 07/08 crash), keep out of it. Housing is over-valued, and will fall upto 40% after the withdrawal of the stimulus. Taking on a £1000 a month mortgage will look like a bad decision in two years time. My advice, keep saving, and diversify where you keep those savings - 60% sterling, 20% euro, 20% gold (you can buy relatively small amounts and gold is on a bull market). This is not aggressive investment advice, merely protective.
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Advice/Opinions for a first time buyer.
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Posted 2 years ago #
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No chance of a 40% fall in house prices - certainly not in Edinburgh.
There has been little fall anyway so far here and I simply don't see any signs of any fall in values
Posted 2 years ago # -
Re 40% fall, this would effectively mean wiping off around the last 5 years of housing price growth. The stock market effectively lost 40% in two months last year. The housing market has proven resilient so far because of the huge unprecedented fiscal stimulus, but the stimulus cannot continue indefinitely, and once it is drawn back, with no major driver for jobs (Edinburgh is a financial centre, lots of job losses there), unprecedented personal debt levels (rampant iron bru consumption), and a cutback in public spending (who's going to clear up all that sick on a sunday morning), a long period of deflation (cheaper bottles of ginger), I think it could be on the cards.
In other words I don't think the last year is a typical and therefore instructive period on which to base economic projections. It's like bench-pressing your max weight pumped up on steriods, then expecting yourself to be able to do that indefinitely after the steriods are taken away.Posted 2 years ago # -
@badnewz
ignoring your Irn Bru and ginger jibes
I find myself agreeing. Scotland and edinburgh have a very high dependancy on the financial and public sector for jobs. Me and my partner are the latter.
My partner should be fine (NHS), but I work for a governement dept, and it's pretty clear that after next year's election, no matter who wins, all manner of pain is on the way for the public sector. I feel relatively secure, as my profession is quite transferable to public or private sector, but I just think there are many more redundancies to come for scotland.
Posted 2 years ago # -
The stock market effectively lost 40% in two months last year.
And has just seen its quickest % increase ever last month.Posted 2 years ago # -
It varies locally so much though. Around here (glasgow) nothing seems to be coming onto the market and prices are still steadily being adjusted lower. I'm looking for my first place, but looking for a cheaper one and with significantly more deposit, and I'm still torn about buying!
Posted 2 years ago # -
mastiles_fanylion, the stock market has rallied but is still well below its early 2007 high. The recent rally is also a response to the stimulus, so once the stimulus is withdrawn, I wouldn't be surprised to see the ftse stagnate (it will rally and fall from time to time because traders need something to do).
The most instructive example for the UK and US is Japan, which after it stock market crashed, went through ten years of falling prices, especially in real estate (before the crash there the land around the Imperial Palace in Tokyo was worth more than the whole real estate of California).
You could flip the question and ask not why would houses prices fall, but why would they grow? I don't see many reasons, especially with a conservative government which has nailed its flag to the mast of public spending austerity. For the sufferings of the private sector just read the threads on here by recently redundant workers.
House prices are likely to fall, they could simply stay the same, but I don't see them increasing. Which would mean there is little motivation to panic buy in the expectation that you will get priced out of the market.Posted 2 years ago # -
but why would they grow?
Ok, let's do that.
In the run up to 2007, I could see people borrowing more with bigger salary multiples, putting down smaller deposits, and self certifying. Also, even though slaries weren't going up as fast as fast as house prices, they were still going up, because things were booming, and employment was high.
Now though, things aren't booming, salaries are static, employment is falling, and lending conidtions are really tight. The banks have reduced their multiples, are asking for bigger deposist, and self certificaton has gone. I mean how many people really do have 20%-40% for a deposit. I don't, and on an average salary, what does x2.75 atually get you at the moment. Not much, take it from me.
Plus, the stamp duty holiday finishes at the end of the year, and no sign a syet it will be extended.
So, those that think house prices have bottomed and are on the way up, what are the factors that will allow that to happen? It's not a loaded question, I genuinely want to know what you think?
Posted 2 years ago # -
In Edinburgh? Prices have not risen much over tha last three or 4 years ( althought they did before that) so property is not so overvalued as in some areas.
Land always remains in short supply and so does quality housing in the city
Edinburgh will continue to be relatively prosperous due to all the tourist money.
There has been no significant drop in house prices in the last year - just a lot less activity and overpriced stuff is not selling - but realistically priced stuff is selling well.
I think we will see a lot of local variations in the market but I think Edinburgh will hold firm - no great rises but no great falls either.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I'm of the opinion that the market has a long, long way to go still. Bear in mind all the stats coming along are about a very small number of transactions compared to a couple of years ago, and they should always be taken with a pinch of salt anyway given they're done by companies with a vested interest in talking up housebuying. The few sales going on seem to be fuelled by the wealthier middle-aged who don't get much interest on their savings so are buying up property instead.
If you're renting for £450/month and it would cost you £1000/month to mortgage something similar, you'd be nuts to buy unless you're committed to living there long-term (10+ years), in which case all the factors going into house price trends are largely irrelevant.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Edinburgh will continue to be relatively prosperous due to all the tourist money.
@TJ, but how many people actually work in tourism compared to public sector and financial services in ediburgh? And of those that do, aren't most of them low paid, casual and trasnient workers, and not involved in the housing market? I can't quite see how Edinburgh's tourism status has a bearing on house prices in Edinburgh for average punters - what am I not getting?
Posted 2 years ago # -
Feenster - simply that it brings a lot of money into the city. A lot.
This supports businesses from hospitality / tourism to retail. So while the directly employed people are lowish earners in the main it has the effect of pushing up the floor on both wages and housing. If you want a job in Edinburgh there is always one available. Due to the high rate of employment and relatively high wages the rental sector is flourishing. £500 pcm for a studio flat worth £120 000 is the norm. A large number of students also are in the city.
So while tourist money has no direct bearing on the housing market - by increasing the affluence of the area it has an indirect effect thru a general increasing of profits and a upwards pressure on the bottom of the market.
Posted 2 years ago # -
mastiles_fanylion, the stock market has rallied but is still well below its early 2007 high.
Ohh I agree - still some 1600 points off (IIRC without checking) but the point is that it is moving *very* quickly in a positive direction.Posted 2 years ago # -
To advocate the devil (or estate agent), reasons I've heard cited for house price growth include: the global economy is recovering, population growth in the UK (to be 70 million in 2030), social economic changes (more divorcing couples = need for 2 rather than 1 property), devalued sterling will bring a UK manufacturing boom, Gordon Brown will get re-elected (unlikely) and will then start another credit binge.
Aliens could also prove to be bullish UK property speculators.Posted 2 years ago # -
Feenster
mmmm, Edinburgh must be loads different to London then, as I would have said you have already missed the lowest point of the trough and things are now going up. According to the papers, other areas do follow the London house pricing trends, though so maybe its only a matter of time.Contrary to you view on lending, things are getting better and better in that department on a weekly basis.
TJ is right on every count as far as I can see... (wow that really hurt)
Posted 2 years ago # -
Ok, I can see what you are saying, but what I still don't get is this:
upwards pressure on the bottom of the market
The bottom of the market, and the financial resources needed to get there don't match at the moment. They haven't for a long time, but previously people just borrowed more, because they could, so prices went up. Now they can't do that, so I reckon the source of that upwards pressure has gone.
From my point of view there is a huge correction needed in edinburgh more than most to get prices more realistic again.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Feenster - if you have a buoyant rental sector due to high employment and large numbers of students then this increases the desirability and saleability of cheap property and thus prices. This then has "knock on" effects throughout the market. The rental sector takes properties out of the owner occupier market thus decreasing availability thus you get a scarcity premium.
As there has been no significant increase in most of Edinburgh in property prices for the last few years there is little correction needed.
I really don't see any significant move in house prices in Edinburgh in any direction over the next few years. Slowly upward if anything
Posted 2 years ago # -
Eninburgh looks to be close to the Scottish average for unemployment
http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/internet/business/economic_development/cec_labour_market_information
Posted 2 years ago # -
Truth is I don't think anyone can predict exactly what the housing market is going to do other than, in the long term, it will probably rise. Yes we have seen prices rising recently but that could also be accounted for by the fact trhat we are almost in equilibrium between buyers and sellers. The quantity of housing being sold and bought is still, from what I understand, considerably down on "normal" levels. With the economic uncertainty (I don't believe we are coming out of the downturn yet) and the potential for more job cuts particularly in the public sector over the next year or two it is more than likely that the house prices will dip, drop or crash. You can never really predict what extra costs you will need when you buy a house either as sometimes things just happen. You have to know your budget, what you need to pay for, decide whether you want those luxuries you may have had up until now (Sky for example) and what else may change in the future (eg babies). Interest rates will rise at some point but quite possibly not for a couple of years but it is something that needs to be factored in to your budgeting. We have been on a fixed mortgage of one sort or another for our entire mortgage history. Yes, it has not been the cheapest option for us at a number of points but I did have security in knowing exactly what the biggest mnonthly outgoing was. That's how I manage. Others do differently and find it works for them. When looking at your costs I would also remember to factor in montly saving for other bills that crop up such as car servicing, boiler servicing, water rates etc.
Posted 2 years ago # -
@TJ
So what you seem to be saying is that the high number of students and low paid workers in tourism and hospitality businesses are fuelling the demand for rental property at the bottom of the market, thus taking them out of the market and making them scarcer and therefore pricier for people like me who want to buy one.
And (I'm running with it here), the higher the bottom of the market gets, the more people are excluded from it, so the more people have to rent which increases demand for rental property, which makes property to buy even more scarce, which keeps it priced high......
Depressing.
So what we [edit: I] need are students and tourists out of Edinburgh
Posted 2 years ago # -
More or less. It has an effect right thru the market. Demand for rental properties is not just at the bottom end of the market tho - 4 / 5 bed flats are also in the rental market for students. The high rental activity keeps a floor under the price per room so even proerties worth £300 000 can make worthwhile rentals if you rent to 5 students.
Certainly prperty is basically unnaffordable and you are right that a correction is needed. I see it happening thru price rises below wage rises for the next ten years rather than by a crash in values in a short time scale
A Leith 1 bed flat at £160 000 is unaffordable for the average worker.
Posted 2 years ago # -
some good advice in this thread.
imho what the market will do depends hugely on where you are.
in cornwall lower end properties, up to 200k, are selling like mad to cash buyers because even at minimal rental they offer a far greater return than the cash in the bank.
250'ish middle market is sticking, the family houses that tend to be mortgage dependent (i sold a house 18months ago for 250 and i reckon that today i would severely struggle to get 200 for it).
300 and up, which tend to be more affluent buyers, is not bad PROVIDED it is priced correctly. there are still a lot of 'have a go' prices around.
but, from what i can gather there are a huge number of deals falling through and a lot of large legal cos laying off conveyancing staff. read into that about teh state of the market what you will!
my gut feeling, and i am happy to be corrected, that the market will slump again in the new year. i don't forsee a catyclismic crash but the re-introduction of stamp duty, vat likely going up and an inevitable rise in interest rates should do it.
my advice would be that if you can find a good deal, most preferably a house that you can add significant value to, and you want a home/long term investment, then buy because cash in the bank is worth nothing.
and for sure do not be afraid to make silly silly offers.
mastilles_fanylion - 18quid/month water, i wish! you can tell that you don't live in cornwall!! : )
Posted 2 years ago # -
http://www.moneyweek.com/investments/property/uk-property-housing-market-hasnt-hit-bottom-yet-939.aspx
Thood for Fought.Posted 2 years ago #
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