Do you want to discuss boring politics? (25 Viewers)

PVA

Well-Known Member
The average house price was 4 times more than the average wage in 1990. So what you are describing was unobtainable to most then as it is now

And now it's 8 times more, so thanks for proving my point 👍🏻
 

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Grendel

Well-Known Member
And now it's 15 times more, so thanks for proving my point 👍🏻

It isn’t though as your comparison makes zero sense.

In 1990 the mortgage maximum was 3 times an average wage if buying from scratch. So the person would have been earning around £60,000 per annum then. That would be around £140,000 now. Now it’s possible to get 5 times - certainly on that wage - so they could buy it now.

This is someone purchasing who’s already high up a property ladder.

Mortgage terms are now totally different. Higher wage factoring and far longer mortgages. Most people would not have afforded in then or now.
 

Grendel

Well-Known Member
Oh and there are plenty of 4 bedroom detached houses in the CV5 area for £400,000 or less. Also it’s very relative, I bought my first flat for £34,000 - on the same block they are now £109,000 35 years later.

If people want to slum it they can get a brand new house on the new estate near Meriden for £390,000
 

Grendel

Well-Known Member
And now it's 15 times more, so thanks for proving my point 👍🏻

The average house price was 59,000 in 1990 - in 2025 it’s £296,000 - a 5 times increase 👍👍
 

PVA

Well-Known Member
It isn’t though as your comparison makes zero sense.

In 1990 the mortgage maximum was 3 times an average wage if buying from scratch. So the person would have been earning around £60,000 per annum then. That would be around £140,000 now. Now it’s possible to get 5 times - certainly on that wage - so they could buy it now.

This is someone purchasing who’s already high up a property ladder.

Mortgage terms are now totally different. Higher wage factoring and far longer mortgages. Most people would not have afforded in then or now.

Your figures are wrong, because you've got the year wrong.

I've worked it out to be the equivalent of a joint income of around 100k today, and with ZERO monthly commitments, which obviously is bollocks, Barclays would lend around 500k.
 

Grendel

Well-Known Member
Fucking hell it's not a difficult concept.

HOUSES ARE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS AFFORDABLE NOW THAN THEY USED TO BE.

What a shock that two boomers can't grasp it.

You have quoted one anecdotal example and tried to suggest this is relevant - boomers tended to buy houses in 1990 - one anecdotal example (with zero evidence it’s even factual) proves nothing in reality - does it?
 

Grendel

Well-Known Member
Your figures are wrong, because you've got the year wrong.

I've worked it out to be the equivalent of a joint income of around 100k today, and with ZERO monthly commitments, which obviously is bollocks, Barclays would lend around 500k.

So we have to have one year? And we have one unproven made up example? So my experience of negative equity is as valid unless it’s only one year that counts?
 

PVA

Well-Known Member
You have quoted one anecdotal example and tried to suggest this is relevant - boomers tended to buy houses in 1990 - one anecdotal example (with zero evidence it’s even factual) proves nothing in reality - does it?

Well yes because the conversation at the time was about our parents buying houses, so I added my anecdote. How would you like me to provide evidence, shall I ask my parents if they still have the 25 year old paperwork in the loft? It's factual, the sale price is on the land registry.

Housing is less affordable now. This is a fact, you can try and deny it all you like, but it just makes you look spiteful and vindictive.
 

Grendel

Well-Known Member
The average wage in 1999 was £20k and average house price £77k - 1999 was a big increase YOY - many Gen X would benefit more than boomers
 

Grendel

Well-Known Member
Well yes because the conversation at the time was about our parents buying houses, so I added my anecdote. How would you like me to provide evidence, shall I ask my parents if they still have the 25 year old paperwork in the loft? It's factual, the sale price is on the land registry.

Housing is less affordable now. This is a fact, you can try and deny it all you like, but it just makes you look spiteful and vindictive.

In 1990 my property was £38,000

I was earning £12,000 a year and 16% interest meant over 50% of income was on a mortgage. I got a part time job at the weekend and I lost £4 grand when I sold it

Gosh it was a cake walk
 

PVA

Well-Known Member
Steve Coogan Shrug GIF
 

Ccfcisparks

Well-Known Member
In 1990 my property was £38,000

I was earning £12,000 a year and 16% interest meant over 50% of income was on a mortgage. I got a part time job at the weekend and I lost £4 grand when I sold it

Gosh it was a cake walk
The fact you were able to get onto the property ladder at all is the difference.
 

SBT

Well-Known Member
I was earning £12,000 a year and 16% interest meant over 50% of income was on a mortgage. I got a part time job at the weekend and I lost £4 grand when I sold it
A house? You were lucky to live in a house! We used to live in one room, all 26 of us, no furniture
 

Grendel

Well-Known Member
A house? You were lucky to live in a house! We used to live in one room, all 26 of us, no furniture

I have clarified it was a flat, I bought a used sofa from ball hill
 

Grendel

Well-Known Member
The fact you were able to get onto the property ladder at all is the difference.

I can only go on what I see. One of my children and 3 of her friends all own houses worth £250k plus
 

Ccfcisparks

Well-Known Member
I can only go on what I see. One of my children and 3 of her friends all own houses worth £250k plus
And I’d imagine they are all in fairly decent careers.

My house is worth 250k+ yet I’m the only one out of my friends to own a house at 27.

I realise I am in a good career and decently paid job, but the reality is for my friends who all have good careers in trade, that without a partner they won’t even be considering the possibility of buying.
 

wingy

Well-Known Member
And I’d imagine they are all in fairly decent careers.

My house is worth 250k+ yet I’m the only one out of my friends to own a house at 27.

I realise I am in a good career and decently paid job, but the reality is for my friends who all have good careers in trade, that without a partner they won’t even be considering the possibility
Thank god for that imagine the market overheating if people like that got a foot on the ladder.
Not a serious comment. 🤔
 

Skybluekyle

Well-Known Member
Whilst it is true that interests rates have been much higher in the past, but this is only one metric to affordability when it comes to getting a mortgage. The current generation of prospective first time buyers have an almost perfect storm of difficulties when trying to get a mortgage; ever increasing cost of living and high rent costs making it difficult to save for deposits, slow wage growth, levels of student debt, stricter lending criteria and housing prices as a percentage of income.

I don't think it is unfair to say that this is a tough time to try to buy a house, and stating the incontrovertible objective fact that it is more difficult to get onto the housing ladder in the past, whilst not diminishing previous generations hard work to get their house, is not controversial.
 
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Sky Blue Pete

Well-Known Member
In 1990 my property was £38,000

I was earning £12,000 a year and 16% interest meant over 50% of income was on a mortgage. I got a part time job at the weekend and I lost £4 grand when I sold it

Gosh it was a cake walk
That’s very true I remember someone saying never stretch yourself more than 25% of your income

without doubt the lower borrowing has exacerbated the increase in property values as not enough properties are available
 

Grendel

Well-Known Member
That’s very true I remember someone saying never stretch yourself more than 25% of your income

without doubt the lower borrowing has exacerbated the increase in property values as not enough properties are available

The other factor as well for people buying then was the great endowment con which lowered payments but the growth never happened and the mortgage isn’t paid.

What I was really trying to hint at was these properties now are around £100,000 and done up to a far better standard then then. Perfectly affordable to most but not considered good enough
 

Sick Boy

Super Moderator
I really don’t get why we can’t just build more. Some people just seem to have this deep aversion to it. It’s the most stupid self inflicted injury and it has so many consequences, not least leading to everyone feeling everything is a bit shit.
Even fly into the south east, you realise that the idea that there's nowhere left to build on is just utter bollocks.
 

shmmeee

Well-Known Member
Even fly into the south east, you realise that the idea that there's nowhere left to build on is just utter bollocks.

London is ridiculously low rise for a global city, and quite compact too by some standards. I wish we didn’t centralise the entire productive economy in the South East but we do and until that changes we need to make living there are cheap as possible as the basic life plan for a lot of grads now is school > uni > London then move out if and when kids appear.

Absolutely build up capacity elsewhere with transport and economic development but that stuff takes decades and houses can be built in months.
 

Sky Blue Pete

Well-Known Member
The other factor as well for people buying then was the great endowment con which lowered payments but the growth never happened and the mortgage isn’t paid.

What I was really trying to hint at was these properties now are around £100,000 and done up to a far better standard then then. Perfectly affordable to most but not considered good enough
I think that’s fair but balanced by most property is out of reach
16% interest rates can you imagine
 

CCFCSteve

Well-Known Member
I really don’t get why we can’t just build more. Some people just seem to have this deep aversion to it. It’s the most stupid self inflicted injury and it has so many consequences, not least leading to everyone feeling everything is a bit shit.

On the right you’ve got some larger self interested developers, in the middle you’ve you’ve NIMBYs, on the left you’ve got ideological planners (I could tell some stories - mostly Labour councils that blocked/delayed developments)…throw in loose migration policies adding millions to the population and you’ve got this shitshow that younger generations will unfortunately have to deal with. Been a disgrace all round
 

shmmeee

Well-Known Member
On the right you’ve got some larger self interested developers, in the middle you’ve you’ve NIMBYs, on the left you’ve got ideological planners (I could tell some stories - mostly Labour councils that blocked/delayed developments)…throw in loose migration policies adding millions to the population and you’ve got this shitshow that younger generations will unfortunately have to deal with. Been a disgrace all round

100% everyone’s got self interested reasons (property prices or just nostalgia) for blocking development. Was just looking at Ken Loach’s complaint about the new Bath rugby stadium claiming no one visits Bath to see a rugby stadium, and apparently it’s too close to a Beech tree. Just self interested nonsense dressed up in whatever is likely to get traction.
 

Grendel

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