The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), which is responsible for setting the UK interest rate, is now facing a difficult balancing act of protecting consumers against a deteriorating economy and falling house prices while inflation continues to grow.Last month, the MPC opted to leave interest rates unchanged at 5.25 per cent. In contrast, the US Federal Reserve has made a number of cuts to its interest rate, with the most recent at the weekend which reduced the cost of interbank borrowing by 0.25 per cent to 3.25 per cent.The Bank of England's MPC will next meet on April 9 and 10 to decide whether to cut or hold the UK interest rate.The US Fed is expected to make another reduction this afternoon, with some economists expecting as much as a 1 per cent reduction as America attempts to fight off a full-blown recession.Yesterday, global stock markets oscillated wildly as investors digested the emergency rescue of Bear Stearns by JP Morgan Chase.Northern Rock cuts mortgages and axes 2,000 jobs - Times Online
I'm not sure if it's a bad time for house buying or not. I mean the interest rates could come down thus making it a great time to take out a new mortgage. But then if house prices continue to fall you could immediately be plunged into negative equity, well ok, not plunged but dipped at the very least. But does any of it matter, by my napkin mathematics, house prices grow a lot over ten year periods, maybe even double. So ride it out you'll be ok in the long run, as long as you can make your mortgage repayments in a difficult climate.
If house prices drop 10% and you're buying up the chain, then it's better for you anyway although your equity takes a hit, the gap is closing by 10%. So forget the days of making huge gains, at least for now, and suck it up and get moving house!
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