Have you seen this? Guardian map illustrating how most people are now priced out of property in the UK?

[TheHouseOnTheLane]

And AIBU to think....what is everyone going to do? Rent forever?

www.theguardian.com/society/ng-interactive/2015/sep/02/unaffordable-country-where-can-you-afford-to-buy-a-house?CMP=fb_gu

Apparently, I can’t afford to rent where I’m buying. Who knew?

Egosumquisum Do you really think that there is light at the end of the tunnel for savers and that they are going to see some return on their thrift again?

I don't. I fear that the Chancellor will go on treating them as a cash-cow to protect over-stretchers from the consequences of their own irresponsible folly.

I hope you are right.

overstretchers being the people struggling to keep a roof over their head.

What a stupid map!

I earn an average wage and could afford a home 600k with my equity in my current home!

No, overstretchers being the people up to their neck in non-housing consumer debt which they can only afford because interest rates are kept low and savers are being shafted.

But surely the point is not everyone has that equity and if you don't you're stuffed. Buy and you get accused by the smug of 'overstretching' Rent and you throw 1000k a month into the net of a buy to letter who can evict you with a month's notice. Its a terrific choice.

I was told I couldn't afford to buy a house in the 90's. Made me even more determined to and I did.

No Andrew that is some overstretchers.

I'm the only one to refer to overstretchers on this thread and I said in terms that I was talking about non-housing consumer debt.

OK Andrew it isn't what I understand from it, which is the issue I had. I've only ever heard it used in relation to mortgages but if that isn't what you mean then fair enough.

I can't help but think in about 30 years time when all the 30 - 40 somethings who have been forced to rent (I'm talking about the south east, greater london area as this is the area I have knowledge of) approach retirement and are presumably still renting. Unlike a mortgage that should by then have been paid off, they will still have the same massive rent costs but their income will reduce by at least half or more depending on their private and state pension provision. Surely this is a massive ticking time bomb that will force millions more people to rely on state benefits but no one seems to talk about this when they say we are heading for reduced numbers of homeownership than in previous generations? I know there was a time when most average families did rent and homeownership for the masses became the norm from the 70's and 80's onwards. But rents back then were obviously more affordable and also there was far more council housing provided. Will there be a mass exodus of retired people who can no longer afford to rent where they are to more affordable places? Where will they go? Am I missing something? How do other countries where renting is the norm manage this?

Very much heads in the sand Egosumquisum. The future looks far from rosie unless something drastic is done and I don't hold out much hope of any government even getting close to having any sort of plan. Maybe they will create weird retirement villages to dump re-house everyone when they stop working.

We do own our own home but this was only possible as we bought in the 90's but my brother and his wife who earn a lot more than us have been priced out and are stuck in this area due to work and family commitments. They pay £1800 pm for a bog standard 3 bed semi and with childcare and living costs find it impossible to save anywhere near the £50,000 deposit required to buy a property. I suppose the only answer for them is to move away and start again somewhere else.

1. Even 30 years ago most people I knew had to buy with two full time wages and before they had children. Even my parents a lot earlier than that had to be married 10 years without children before being able to buy! My grandfather was over 50 when he had my father as he had to put off marrying until he was 40 in order to afford his family. So this is not a new problem.

1. 30 years ago I was paying 12% interest rates so today's rates seem much easier although of course you have to borrow more now so that isn't better.

1. There seems to be more of an expectation that you buy a lovely home. Most people in the old days started in an area no one would want to live in in some kind of bed sit dive as their first place. People today will not tolerate that awfulness at the start in the hope of better later.

1. I had to move for work and so have all my ancestors in most generations so I don't think today's people are any different. People have also always had long commutes - 30 years ago mine was an hour each way - yes that's nto nice but it was the price you had to pay 30 years ago to buy a property for most of those people with two professional salaries who worked full time who could afford to buy one.

But what's interesting Janet is that isn't what my parents say. I was still very lucky, we bought our first house in 2000, a much lesser house than they managed at the same age without degrees.

And in terms of interest rates they can only go one way so it's a big risk to take buying a house at 7× joint income for example when they can go up.

The amount people have to save now for a deposit is just eyewatering and salaries haven't gone up the same it's basic economics.

Of course not everyone always found it easy the difference is for many it's now pretty much impossible.

I agree with you Janet and was the same for my parent's/grandparent's generation and we also lived through high interest rates having bought a very small first home in back in 91. But I think the big difference now is we are being told that renting is ok and something the next generation should accept as they way it will be.

Map shows how affordable area I used to live in and still work in is.

East Lancs. Burnley BB11 median £77,000 cheapest £10,000. Nelson median £66,000 cheapest £11,000.

Good transport links to Manchester train/fast bus.

But young people prefer to rent in trendier Manchester suburbs. Yes the towns are deprived but not all bad.

Well I'm very glad to be living on the M62 corridor as it seems to be one of the only places where house prices are slightly connected to reality.

I suspect a few will be able to buy later in life eventually with inheritance if any left after care home fees.

I am sooooo lucky Bought aged 22 a shall one bed house but nice area in a new town for 34k. That was in 1992 or there abouts. Moved twice since and in a 3 bed extended house now that we pay in full this year. ????????

I feel VERY lucky and I know it's only down to the fact I bought young.

I worried for my kids. How will they afford anything with uni fees and a massive mortgage. I'm saving for them but it won't be enough. ????

The gap between the haves and have nots continues to grow. Nothing new here, guardian.