House prices

Given the current average house prices in the UK, especially in the South-East, does this really come as a massive surprise to anyone?

^ It's more complex than just simple supply and demand although that is definately the major factor. Each country that engages in Keynesian economics experiences market manipulations by the state due to the destructive effects of bubbles occurring in the imperfect system (the reason we have total economic collapses that need to be bailed out). It also encourages speculation in housing prices which means investors buy up properties and hold onto them so they can unload them at peak price spikes. In effect, there are a minority of wealthy elites who own a majority of the property on the market alongside a huge number of those who don't with the most vulnerable of society finding themselves unable to sustain any sort of housing at all. I've taken a great interest in these things since the 2008 financial collapse and it all makes sense once the invisible mechanisms of control are exposed. The housing game is much like the stock market in many ways these days as legal protections have been eroded in many Western countries in the last 50 years.

Blacksword wrote: The ambition of homeownership will be a thing of the past very soon in the UK and we'll move to a rental model. Home ownership will be very much an elitist concept in the years to come, and only top earners will be buying property, and much of that will be to rent out to the rest of us at very great cost.

Yep, it's certainly heading that way. I think I read the average deposit required was around £36,000. The only way I can see my sons having that kind of money in a reasonable amount of time is if I sell our house, downsize/move somewhere cheaper and give them the money left over.

Simple solution! Move up to the North East of England! You'll be able to buy a Manor House for the price of a Home Counties bedsit!

Only drawback is there are hardly any jobs, all the football teams are rubbish, prog groups never seem to make it past the Midlands and we talk a bit funny - but we're a friendly lot and the scenery is breathtaking! God's own country!

^ Indeed... 

How about buying a plot of land in the woods and building a small cabin? Doesn't necessarily cost more than a few thousand pounds and you'll save a lot in heating compared to a multi-roomed house.