12 Apr 2014 12:38 PM:

Of all the comments, I feel that Woodbug is nearest the mark. There is a lot behind these figures that is not always clear to see. I am up in Catalunya where the property market has effectively stalled. The only things that are selling are the giveaways so if the REAL market has totally stopped the firgures are distorted. Another factor is that many owners are now renting out theirs apartments all year. This is new; just five or six years ago it was unheard of. So that obviously affects the buying market. But the single most significant thing is the absence of bank finance. That is why the only things selling are the real cheapies. There are always people with cash but why should they buy at full price when some poor sod is having to sell at half price just to get rid of the yoke.

Thread: 3.4 million empty homes....where are they?

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