The "thick chicks" seem to think that BTL is in good shape. Clearly, they haven't read the article on today's (26/04/08) front page of the Times. They clearly don't have much foresight. The temporary rise in rents, will not last forever, once the BTL brigade start flooding the market with their unwanted properties. Indeed, it looks as though they’ve already started doing so.

Keith, London, UK

It doesn't take a genius to work out that what can treble over the last ten years will probably halve over the next 5 as expectations of falls become embedded.

And houses will still be more expensive than they were in real terms just 10 years ago.

harry e, London,

Usual tosh from estate agents who forget the basics, viz:
Inflation: 4%. Depreciation on Building: (Purchase Cost x 50% x 2%) = 1%. Opportunity cost of funds (post tax): 4%. This means that prices MUST rise by 9% per annum just to stand break even.

Albert, London,

Every boom is followed by a crash. this has been a maga boom created by cheap and easily available credit so expect a large crash as credit tightens. perhaps we can all go back to earning a living rather than relying on property speculation.

david, eastbourne,

There are NO bargains to be had yet because greedy folk who have got used to making easy money are waiting for things to return to normal. Only problem is, this is the 'new normal'. Cut those prices big time or sit it out for three years.
This 'bricks chicks' is no more than 'cherry-picked' garbage

george, aylesbury,

Martyn, London. Hello. Your 'friend's' house has not fallen in value by 8%. His estate Agent overpriced in the first place, probably to get the instruction. Prices and values do not correlate and that is why the papers have a field day.

James, London,

Let these house prices crash
It will be good for the economy, it will be good for our children

marcel, Richmond,

The estate agents have all been resoponsible for creating the massive property bubble.What they say can't be trusted.
The quote from Artisreal above is laughable as well as delusional.
Property prices will most likely fall by aroounf 40% over the next two years.

James, London, U.K

The property market is grossly overvalued whichever way you want to measure it. The only thing newsworthy about this market is the endemic lack of foresight, financial competence and basic understanding of asset markets shown by those who were participating and leveraging in.

Dom, Exeter, England

At the risk of repeating what others have said (but it is important) and while I appreciate that your property section is funded by advertising from estate agents and house builders it really is not on to only ask those with a vested interest in supporting the market to comment!

Ian, London,

Linda Beaney sounds suicidal! But she's spot on!

Rob, Isle of Wight,

Yes, try to get some other, more valid points of view. Estate agents and mortgage advisors have a clear motivation to spin in 1 direction. Personally I just want the fall to be over quickly, so that there is less overall pain. ie 30% nominal (pounds paid) or 50% real fall (including inflation).

Rab, Northampton,

When you ask for the opinion of teh housing markey, please PLEASE try and obtain some neutral pundits. All you so called experts have a vested interedt in prices going up. I would go as far as to say the banks colluded to ensure prices go up. It's getting worse by the day.

David Barnes, Ealing,

The government says that there's a shortage of houses (particularly in the south), big house-builders say that because of the mortgage squeeze they won't build any more, then surely demand is going to outstrip supply and therefore, I don't see how that is going to lead to a major drop in prices

Oxford Don, Oxford, UK

It might be looking gloomy epeciallfor those wishing to sell up. However do we realistically believe that there will be a time when people will not want to own their own homes ? I think this will not last. It is just a bad time to sell. Or is it just a case of the market returning to normalcy?

kofi Anston, Accra,

Hello!!! A friend just sold his flat in Willesden at 8% less than its valuation three months ago. I am trying to sell my flat and my agent tells me to be 'realistic', ie put it on for 10k less. Estate agents are trying to talk up the market. The fall in London is getting on for 10%.

Martyn, London,

The term 'expert' used in the heading to this piece could only have come from the Estate Agents Dictionary.

Only six weeks ago The Times' sister paper carried an article entitled 'The buy-to-let market is thriving'. The piece carried the advice of two 'experts', both BTL agents.

Malcolm Williamson, WGC,