So do you think the property market has bottomed out? Please vote, it only takes a minute!

[sylar]

We've been "off the ladder" for the past 18 months and are now thinking about buying again. Very hesitant given the dramatically different reports in the media - BBC and Times constantly saying we''ve hit the bottom, others saying this can't possibly be true given we're still in a recession.

What do you think?

[ladyofshallots]

No, not while unemployment is still rising. We're still buying now though as it is an emotional decision rather than an entirely fiscal one.

[Blackduck]

EA's reckon it has stabalised (but coould argue what do they know!)

[Chevre]

no it hasn't bottomed out. there will be a crash when everyone who has been refusing to sell at reduced prices is forced to sell. i give it a year

[randomtask]

In our area, the prices of houses have gone up £25k on average in the last month or so. The mortgage interest rates have gone up too.

So, it's either improving or, this is a blip and things will go down again. Incidentally, two months ago we had 7 houses in our road up for sale. Now we have 1.

[tinierclanger]

No. Depends where you live though - apparently my locale is 'recession-proof!'.

[ninah]

no way has it

[EldonAve]

no, this is a blip and prices will drop again

[Jojay]

Nope - I think they'll fall more.

The underlying problems that caused the recession are still there, and unemployment is going to soar

[alardi]

NO. Or if it has, it's quite an unusual case; previous house price fall periods lasted much longer and sunk a bit lower relative to other indicators. This time we're coming down from such a high peak, it would suprise me if stabilised (and started to generally go up again), at/from a point so high relative to average earnings.

[glastocat]

No way, we're holding on until next summer at least. I think its got a long way to go yet ( although I'm in Ireland, I don't think its much better in the UK).

[jeanjeannie]

No. Seems to me unemployment is so bad that it has to continue to have an effect. It's in the interest of EAs and the banks to 'talk it up'. Can't imagine what will happen if the interest rate was to go up.

[artichokes]

Depends where you live & what price brackets you are looking at. We are after large family houses in nice areas of London & I don't think they'll go lower than they were six months ago. Most potential buyers for such houses seem to be escaping the worst of the recession.

[trixymalixy]

No, people are still surviving on their redundancy payouts/savings and i think we will see a lot more forced sales later on this year.

[Penthesileia]

What artichokes said.

It may be worth thinking about the stock-market. It is, apparently, showing some signs of recovery, and is generally believed to be about 9 months ahead of the general economy. This might imply that the housing market will continue to drop until the new year, when it will stabilise or pick up.

[AlderTree]

Depends where you are in the country. I think parts of the south east are starting to recover especially in the family house market. Some property still seems overpriced and not shifting. It is more a case of being realistic about what someone will pay for your house and probably not a good time for the property developers/second home owners but then they are part of the reason the whole thing crashed. If everyone didn't think buying property was a ticket to money making and be content with one house rather than having two the suppply/demand wouldn't be so out of kilter. Hopefully the traditional family owner, loking for an extra bedroom or move because of schools/work can get a look in especially if they have a bit of equity because they have been in their house for a while.

[noddyholder]

Another 18 months at least

[AlderTree]

My vote therefore is its erratic, don't overstretch yourself and only buy if you are after long term stability that way if it hasn't completely bottomed out you won't be so effected by negative equity.

www.mouseprice.com/ a very useful and slightly addictive website to make sure you don't pay too much adn find out how different streets are doing in your area.

[HighOnDieselAndGasoline]

No, there are obviously a lot of people not putting their houses on the market at the moment. What is selling is going for more than it is worth, as there is so little available. I reckon a lot of people will be forced onto the market in the autumn, and prices may fall again then.

[goldenpeach]

No way, some areas are still so pricey, like they are in a parallel universe with no recession!

[Frizbe]

House prices have gone up here this month! only a teeny bit, but personally I don't think you'll see much more of a drop. (Derbyshire BTW)

[swineofthetimes]

Nope - unemployment is on the up.

[Jampot]

no I dont think it has bottomed out. Increasing unemployment cannot fail to have an effect on the housing market. We're still renting (since march 08) and there is nothing on the market to buy that still isnt overpriced (imo).

[Meglet]

no, I think this winter will see them dropping a little more. No one's job is safe is it?

[LyraSilvertongue]

I think they have in my area. Estate agents doing brisk business. Houses selling for asking price for the first time in ages.

[wasabipeanut]

There does seem to be a little "boomette" going on in some areas where supply is short - particularly for family houses. That doesn't mean it's bottomed out though - and the bank lending situation doesn't look like easing anytime soon.

We are also at the beginning of the curve in terms of a massive tax hike - whoever wins the election. I don't think everyone truly understands how much they are going to have to rise and this is going to drastically affect affordability.

I have just bought incidentally at a sensible price IMO, but somewhere we plan to stay for 10 years plus.