Yes, it is for those of us over the age of 55 (though not necessarily oldies as such!), but still a very nice flat in an eye-catching location.

I've since phoned the agent and received an email confirming a small increase in fees.

The buy-to-let market is also very active, particularly in the North, though these numbers are not large enough to make a significant impact upon the overall market stats. Of course this is partly because rents are on the rise, as you say, and also because there are now more favourable lending terms for buy-to-letters.

The longer the indications are that there will be no increase in interest rates the more the market will only very gradually fall off, outside London. Central London prices are a different game entirely.

The fall off is of course principally due to lack of access for first time buyers since demand exceeds supply, so perceived over-valuation is less of an issue, but we must not forget that as interest rates remain very low there are precious few alternatives for those bigger players intending to put their savings somewhere, apart from real estate where the returns are getting ever more attractive.

Pete,

A lot of my views are self serving. Example if people don't have jobs or are underemployed they wont be buying hence prices will fall and therefore benefit those of us who are returning.

I also think the value of the dollar will increase against the pound. If this will happen in the short term I don't know but things in the last few days change by the hour.

Cheers

While in the Uk I took some time to take a look at certain commentaries in the printed media from individuals who make a difference so that I could take a position on the Uk relative to the US in particular.

The perception was that the Uk was not that badly off and that the private sector is creating jobs much faster than the public sector is losing them which is not at all a bad thing. Generally, there was support for the Chancellor's hard line on public spending and the cuts.

The key is manufacturing and the jobs that would be created by the Uk selling into the emerging economies of Asia and the other BRICs.

As long as the USD maintains reserve currency status the US dollar "should" be well-supported and the dollar right now is doing OK because of this as players are buying US treasuries as a safe haven.

Sterling is languishing because interest rate rises are on hold and due to the connection to the Euro economy.

Within two years expectations are for the UK to start getting its economic house in order and markets will react well before this so it is hard to tell where a prospective purchaser of Uk real estate will be in dollar terms what with anticipated real estate market movements, sterling and the dollar AND US elections and the DEFICIT and POLITICS to factor in.

Well, it looks like there is a lot of friendly help on here, so maybe you guys can also help me?
We are moving back in January and looking for a house. Must be detached and either completly renovated - very recently or brand new. I am not into DIY in the slightest.
Must be in a very quite location. The wife would prefer it if the nearest neighbour wasnt within walking distance But she can be abit strange that way, but certainly somewhere peacefull.
Where in the country isnt too important as my work will be outside of the UK, so just need to be able to get to an airport every couple of months.
I want to be in walk distance to a pub and shop.
Now the hard part. The budget is about 210k pounds.

Any one help?

I was thinking about you the other day,well your situation more so.Just wondering would Spain be an option for you.

With that budget you should be overwhelmed with options because you are way above the media price for homes in the UK.

We did think about Spain, but one of the things i would like to do when i am back is spend some time with family who are in the North East. Not looking to live close to them, but am looking to be able to drive up and stay a couple of days every so often.

You might find something in the Scottish Borders. Lovely area, low population and can be handy for the NE depending upon which area you choose.

Well I have been researching properties around that price for about 7 months and in different areas around West Midlands, South, South West. I am finding out that you can get a decent detached house in Herefordshire or Shropshire but you would have to settle for less in Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Somerset, Dorset, Hants, Essex and possibly Devon, although of this list you are likely to have better luck in Devon. And of course it goes without saying that counties closer to London are even more expensive.
Have you made a list of your criteria? e.g. Coast or inland? Is Wales an option? Do you or your wife have family or friends you would like to live close to?

This is on the Scottish borders or that's where it is listed.


http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-...-16248261.html

Nice house and nice setting.

Ideally we would like to be no more north than South Yorkshire. Although my family are in Middlesbrough, the wife will probably spend more time with hers who are in London and Leicester. But we can be flexible.

One of the big issues with being further north is weather. She is dreading that part of the move as it is, so mainly looking at the southern / midlands arears.

We would love to be coastal - but not in a big town or city. Outskirts of a village in the country would also be nice though.

Lovelly house Cheers, but rwice our budget.

It is key that it is new. I will be working away for 8 weeks at a time in pretty hostile terrain so when i come home for 3 weeks off i am not going to want to have to do things around the house much.

Time to get on Rightmove.co.uk and start looking at some areas. I see very few brand new homes so you might want to search "new builds in ...." on Google or something similar.

If your wife was willing to go further north, I would have suggested Northumberland - beautiful and cheap!

But if she doesn't want to go further north than South Yorkshire, and given your budget, I would recommend looking in Lincolnshire or Norfolk. Both will give you better value for money than most areas of the country - particularly Lincolnshire. Another possibility that I know less about is Warwickshire/Shropshire.

Do remember that the West Coast of the country is warmer than the East, so the Cumbrian coast could be another affordable possibility. (It is wetter, however than the East). People there are so friendly.

Herefordshire is also a bit easier on the wallet and has some really nice areas. I believe they get quite a bit of rain the closer you get to the Welsh hills but it is generally warmer than the north and very scenic.