[lettie]

House prices throughout the country are ridiculously high. When I worked on the community, I visited goodness knows how many young families who had bought brand new houses. You could tell that they were struggling to pay for them, as there was very little furniture, no holidays etc. When the interest rates rise significantly, and they will because they always do. Not only will these families be in Dickie's Meadow but they will also be in negative equity because of the corresponding fall in house prices.

I would not pay £100,000 for a terrace. I paid £22,000 for mine in 1990. Some terraces are of decent build but in slightly dodgy areas. They are being bought by letting agencies who are renting them out to people who couldn't give a toss about the area. These cheaper houses are worth buying. They are often a good solid build, decent sized bedrooms, some of which could convert to 2 rooms. My house has found itself in one of these areas due to landlords moving undesirables in. Areas like this need decent people who care about where they live in order to help improve the areas. I love my little house and I have to say that there has definitely been some improvement in my area over the last 12 months.