With the US subprime crisis spreading to Europe, shockwaves in Northern Rock which would spread to other banks, UK economy growth not looking healthy, increasing trade deficits, sharply rising mortgage costs, falling corporate profits and job cuts especially in the City, and as market turmoils escalates, housing price which shows a first drop of 2.6% (from Rightmove last month), this are the signs of the beginning of a housing crash. PROPERTY SHARES ARE A SELL!

unemployment will almost certainly continue to increase into at least Q4, for that always lags behind economic activity.
however, there is no doubt at all that properties are starting to sell again, both retail (high street) and housing .... that is from personal observation, and not just newspaper reports!

You're a cheerie lot on here (Big Al & Strawbs). Seems to me it is the classic case of missing the upside. There's a golden rule as a trader/investor and that is trade what you see and not what you think is going to happen. Since Jan I've made quite a bit and will always have at least one lot of dough in ready to catch an up day. The thing is not to be overstretched in case the market does reverse.

ps. In Notts most of the decent property has now sold. After having nobody viewing for ages, suddenly about 3 mnths ago my partner had 2/3 potential purchasers coming round per week. The house sold, fell through and has now sold again.

Actually DD, if you read my posts on the FTSE thread I did make plenty of money between March and May (although can't take the credit for the analysis). I always invest on what I see, I just haven't seen it yet..... or maybe I have, and it's a different picture from yours. ;-)

Strawbs.

You've actually taken a risk strawbs?

Things must be getting better!
;-)

Took a risk DD. Between March and May... Now waiting for confirmation before taking the next one (on the bearish side)... ;-)

Strawbs.

DD - never considered property a "trade". It'll be "investable" in a year or two when it's dropped another 25%. ;-))))

The shares are a trade albeit they appear to be mainly stuck atm.

TW. has barely moved for 4 weeks. It used to be a good trading share but I guess things have to improve in the US before we see upside.

Ah, I see where you're at. I was talking buying/selling property.

TW. is the one housebuilder I watch / trade, but I agree it's flat-lining recently after a very exceiting Spring!