UK vs. US, part Duh: Gavin & Stacey

[Soulmanure]

So earlier I posted a query as to who has the better television options--the US or the UK. Seemed liked the the overall view was that it was a draw when it came to general TV (we both have a few good shows and tons of schlock), but the UK wins on documentaries. Long live David Attenborough!

One of the oft mentioned UK shows was Gavin & Stacey, so I decided to check it out. To be honest, it didn't hold my attention, but I was struck by something: Gavin & Stacey both have what seem to be well enough paying salaried positions, are in their twenties, and they live at home. In the US, leaving home is generally priority number one, and if you have a good job, it's assumed, more or less, that you are renting or on your way to buying.

Here's my question: does Gavin & Stacey present a normal option for young professionals in the UK, or is their situation atypical? If it were in the States, Gavin & Stacey would be in some slightly swanky but not over the top apartment somewhere, and it would be their friends (as in Friends) who helped them to find and blow it in love. Anyway, whadyall think?

[Pipe Dude]

Most 20 year olds over here are finding it very hard to get on the property ladder these days. Renting a house over here is usually more per month than a mortgage repayment on the same property would be. Hence why they live at home - to save up a deposit for a mortgage.

[DeadBase]

I'm currently considering moving back into the parents house whilst we try and raise enough capital to put a deposit on some property. There is no way we'd be able to accumulate enough cash whilst paying rent, c.tax, bills etc. A lot of friends still live at home but they are single and mostly trying to raise deposits as well .

[ctrl]

myself and the better half lived with her father while we went through uni and saved up for house deposit

we were both mature students (over 21) and had been together about 5 years by then....we lived with him for about 6 or so years.....

I think its pretty common in the uk, people are not quick to move out these days, they know how easy and cheap life is at home....

Im currently thinking of going halfers on a big house with a granny flat with my mum, shes getting older now and could do with someone near....
If you look at life in places like india or some parts of EU family just buy one big house and all live in it...it makes sense these days

I know there are special mortgages now for brother and sisters to buy together, as well as parent and sibling

[daverave999]

I've only just moved out from my parents' house (again...) and I'm 30. Much cheaper at home, meaning I could actually enjoy my youth. Now I'm in a (rented) flat with the Lady and things aren't quite so easy on the money front.

Ridiculous house price inflation (since about 2002) caused by easy access to cheap credit has caused this. Traditionally, house prices in the UK have fluctuated around the 3.5x multiple of average wage but even up to 7x seems acceptable now. I am convinced that the degradation in societal norms and the increase in ASBO culture is directly related to both parents having to work.

Recently, this rampant house price inflation has been artificially propped up through various government initiatives and massaging of the figures. I forsee recovery from this recession being long and painful, similar to Japan in the 1990s.

[monkey66]

I think when G and S was first written (3 or so years ago) it was a realistic proposition and no doubt they are more concerned with comedy vehicles than strict reality.

The world has changed in the last few years and things are very hard for young couples, it is hard enough to find a property in your price range and then very hard to get a mortgage without 20-25% deposit. Where a couple with a normal income (?50K joint) is supposed to find ?20-40K cash for a deposit is very hard without family help.

[Soulmanure]

Sounds pretty rough over there, though I can say that living in the Bay Area is no different. Here, small starter houses go for half a million easy, and the idea of a 20 percent down payment on that, much less the monthly mortgage payment to go along, is out of the question.

My wife often wants to talk about buying a house, and my response is--ok, where are we moving to? Idaho? Kentucky?

On the other hand, rents here are also ridiculous. When the Great Recession hit, a number of my friends in their thirties did the walk-of-shame back home, spending a year or more at the folks' place. Seems like this is more normal in Europe in general, which I think is a good thing, especially in times of trouble such as ours.

[satch]

I've got two kids (nearly 18 and 15).
I'm wondering if they'll ever be able to buy their own home.
There's absolutely no chance I could afford to buy my house now. I've been in it for 23 years.
The mortgage was bad enough then, but now, with prices as they are, no way!

[celsis]

Sounds pretty rough over there, though I can say that living in the Bay Area is no different. Here, small starter houses go for half a million easy, and the idea of a 20 percent down payment on that, much less the monthly mortgage payment to go along, is out of the question.

My wife often wants to talk about buying a house, and my response is--ok, where are we moving to? Idaho? Kentucky?

On the other hand, rents here are also ridiculous. When the Great Recession hit, a number of my friends in their thirties did the walk-of-shame back home, spending a year or more at the folks' place. Seems like this is more normal in Europe in general, which I think is a good thing, especially in times of trouble such as ours.

My wife is from Antioch, not far from where you must be and we toyed with the idea of living in Sacramento for a while. When I saw the house prices and all the taxes I nearly collapsed! Federal taxes, state taxes, local taxes, sales tax and an astronomical tax on cigars! You have my sympathy!

[Son of Cigarsmoke]

Uni accomodation seems to be the next step for guys my age, if your not in uni you stay at home unless you can get together with some mates and rent a place out but that has its own problems too...

[Pipe Dude]

Look slike hereditary mortgages (like they have in Germany) are going to become more common.

[Soulmanure]

Look slike hereditary mortgages (like they have in Germany) are going to become more common.

Hereditary mortgages? How does that work--is it voluntary?

[ChrisMClark]

I'm 25, in a salaried position, not what you'd typically class as a 'professional' job, but I am a 'professional' musician within the Army. I don't have my own house. Since I joined up in 2002 I moved from home to training regiment (lived in barrack room), to phase 2 training centre (lived in barrack room), to my unit (lived in a barrack room) and then got married, at which point I moved into an Army owned and maintained house with my wife, so for all intents and purposes, I am techincally renting. Thanks to numerous reasons, partly my own stupidity with credit when I was younger, I'm looking at being at least 30 before I'm in any position to buy my own house.

I'm also not a huge fan of Gaving and Stacey I am, however a big fan of Stacy, or rather the actress that pays her. Especially in Love Actually where she, ahem....'got 'em out'.

[jibjob79]

UK vs. US, part Duh: Gavin & Stacey

I now have an urge to watch love actually among my many urges now.