I see your angle but there is a difference between people not being able to afford it, and not wanting to pay it because its overpriced. Again my argument is that anyone whos been in their terraced house over last few years will have seen value increase. Its a different thing altogether if an agent gets bullish with sale price. Notwithstanding any 'special' cases then Id argue that only people who bought last year and selling now (highly unlikely and unusual) would be doing so at a loss. Others will have seen good equity increases but maybe yes due to bullish valuations beyond that, have maybe had to reduce. The bigger picture and general trend is still up! This is an ebb and flow due to demand which is pegged back on election and employment uncertainty Re wage growth inflation, those figures are improving now but affordability will just shift first time buyers out further afield. East Dulwich is a very desirable place to live, and its still relatively cheap compared to other zone 2 family hotspots. Demand will push prices higher as with anything.. The wider picture is whether due to this the UK will see a 2 speed economy with London and SE vs rest of country. My view is yes we will but thats another argument Also dont forget mortgage restrictions are the tightest ever for First time buyers. Many people now can afford the repayments on a FTB flat but get turned down as repayments are based on minimum 5% interest rate,and inital capital required in monstrous. Therefore the "slack" is in banks becoming more comfortable to lend and being more commercial/supportive of FTB market. That will be driven once regulations around Tier 1 ratio/BasleIII (the amount banks have to hold) etc all settle, and banker bashing driving political agenda moves on to somewhere else and we become less fearful of what is in the majority =good credit