Euro mn'ers - what do you think Angele Merkel will do?

[AlpinePony]

We're in the process of buying a house - I'm hedging my bets on inflation sooner or later - but tbh, the way the markets have gone the last 18-24 months who the hell knows for sure anymore?

Do any of you have a hotline to Angele - what do you think she's going to do?

Here in NL houseprices have come down at least 20% over the last 2 years. I'm not not evangelist at all about the whole "property only ever goes up" - but right now we're in a situation where we'd get better bang for our buck if we buy.

Oh Angele - if you're a mn'er - give us a clue?

[bunnyfrance]

Sorry, I'm not Angele but didn't want your message to go unanswered!

We're hoping to buy too, but unfortunately we have to sell first. And prices have gone down in the area we are, but not where we want to buy

I think now's a good time to buy if you're a first timer.

[Middlemarch85]

We bought in NL a year ago. We bought in an old, quite expensive area where we were told (and hope)houses were less vulnerable to market fluctuations and there would alsays be amarket for the house. Our guess is that the worst that can happen is that we lose some money on selling it, but not shedloads. we will need to sell one day as we are not going to be permanent residents but expect to be here for up to 10 years. I have no idea whether it is the right thing or what the Euro is going to do though! Good luck.

[AlpinePony]

Middlemarch - thank you. That's the way I'm trying to be philosophical about it too. In an ideal world when we pack up and move on we'd owe the bank nothing and in fact they'd give us a cheque. But if we owe the bank 2k or 10k or whatever, it's not the end of the world - it'll be paid and life goes on. [wry]

We're looking at a 10-year fix with interest rates and a very low early-repayment penalty. Can you recommend your lender?