I am neither of the above. Always done well buying and sell homes/houses
WHAT PART OF IMO DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND.

What about the capital gains you make on a home/house?
What about the tax you pay on the interest you make with the money sitting in the bank?
What about........
We could sit here all night going through all the positive's & negative's, and like I said right from the start IMO, AND EVERY CASE WOULD BE DIFFERENT

Where in my post did I say houses are cash machines?

Are you seriously trying to say that it is my fault that the market rocketed in such a short space of time and that I should have sold it for far less than it was worth? What you're forgetting is that the owner of the next house I bought also made a fortune and so I paid a lot more for that property than I would have done had I bought it 8 months earlier.

Let's hypothetically say you bought a property today for $500,000, this time next year you decide to move up the property ladder and your property is now valued at $700,000 are you telling me that you would market it at a much lower price? No? I didn't think so.

Calm down...there's no need to shout

I have to shout so you can hear
Property is a long term investment and you will (unless you are stupid or unlucky) make money.

Other investments which are taxable?

Don't teach me about property investments - I've been in this line for the past 20 years. I've seen the good, bad and the really ugly side of property investments in three different markets (India, HK and Dubai).

Still insufficient houses to meet supply and population growth over the next decade though.

You know it really leaves a bad taste in my mouth all this hype about property prices. It truely has sickened me from buying a home I am so fed up hearing about people making money yadah yadah yadah (you know who you are). At one time I was waiting for a property crash just so I could get a home cheaper (I will be a cash buyer) however I'm so over that now I think I am happy renting for the rest of my days.

Typical RE comments. Actually it's all to do with timing if you are "in property as an investment". You are either lucky or not. It's nothing to do with being clever or smart or anything like that.

Property will not be an "investment" for much longer - thank goodness. Houses will be homes again.

It's not all about luck. If you look 'know' how to buy you can still make money in a quiet market.

Sorry didn't think I was giving lesson's just my opinion (and experience over the past 25years)

If he wanted to stay in that same house for 10 years though. Thats the problem I have with it now, I prefer something a more flexable and cheaper to cash in! Costs a fortune in fees etc to sell/buy houses. Its quite interesting reading this thread as most people view their property emotionally. I've lived in rentals, had a mortgaged home, been mortgage-free, lived in a campervan, lived nowhere with 2 kids in tow (ie, backpacking) and it has changed my outlook towards "owning my own home".. its made me realise that its something that I don't need.. I thought that I did, but actually, I don't need that security. I find being free of that need quite refreshing and to a certain degree liberating. And I do have 2 kids school age (my youngest is only 12) and I am in Mum-mode most of the time.

Disclaimer (due to BE getting stroppy occassionally): above statement was not judging people who feel differently, just my reflection on home/property/house prices.

Em x

It is not all about money - the freedom of owning your home (if you can afford is) far outweights renting IMO.

For many they are renting through a private landlord and therefore have no say in what they can do to the place, where to put pictures up, whether to move or not etc etc.

I know for certain that I didn't feel settled until I had my own home again, with my own stuff, my own choice in fittings etc.

Interestingly I don't look at it in that way, ie, making more money than paying in rent. The way I look at it is that I have to earn x amount a year to live on the planet. The investments supplemented by income (I can't afford not to work yet, if ever) need to cover that and make more so I can invest more. I then do the math and decided which situation makes me more money, renting and investments or paying a mortgage and running costs and repairs etc.. (yes, I know I own the house eventually, but it is not an asset in my eyes until it is making me money.. until then it is a liability because it is costing me money). Its just a balance sheet really. But then again, as I said before, I don't have the emotional need to actually own the bricks and mortar and the roof, having my stuff in the home (rental or campervan) is enough for me.

Saying all the above, you have to remember that I am very new to all this investing melarky and I am not great at it.. but i am learning!

Em x

It is all about money for me, or survival if you like.. Again, horses for courses.