Hey Charles, I don't know really know real estate law inside out...I don't actually sell/buy houses in my job, but we're famous here for our gazumping (at the very last minute the seller demands a higher price, and the buyer has to go through with it or the whole chain collapses). Or at least we were! Now it's gazundering...where the buyer demands a lower price at the last minute! A deal is NEVER done here until all paperwork is signed, buyers and sellers find it hard to sleep easy during the days before completion.

Very witty Scott ;-) We are a scared bunch...a friend of mine has fallen in love with an apartment opposite my block in walking distance to the City (financial district) where he works. Anyway, it's a new build and has been marketed since last summer (off spec) at £335,000. He put in an offer of £250,000 a few weeks ago and eventually it was ACCEPTED...yep that's right nearly 200 thousand dollars less than asking price. Anyway, we were all celebrating that he was going to have a brand new luxury apartment for so little in a place that will always retain value (walking distance to financial district) and yet he ended up walking away because he was convinced he could get somewhere as good cheaper in the future. I don't think he will but that's the general attitude here now. 

Finally Scott...I fell in love with you about 6 months ago! Where key lime pie is I eventually follow :-) We will definitely hook up soon!

Carolyn, you're absolutley right...people kill to live in our buildings and always will because people hate the subway and want to be able to get to work in 5 minutes. I get up at 8.30 am and I'm at my desk at 9...how many people can say that?! Also the City is expanding eastwards so our part of town will be even better...AND it's where the Olympics will be in 2012 so there's lots of money being poured into regeneration of our neighborhood. As for prices, one bed apartments in my building are still being listed at £330k and my building is about 3 years old now and it's not as nice as this one I'm talking about. But the difference in the listing and and closing prices are probably failry substantial. That being said, our area is fairly immune to changing house prices. London is it's own bubble anyway, and then we're in a very well located part of that bubble! I'm going to try and get a video made of my street for you :-)

Mitchell - It's still like that here for renting. Last year when I started renting the apartment I live in now I signed the contract on the roof of the agents car just as the next couple came round to view it! It used to be like that for sales too but not now by any means.

Gary - Thanks :-)

Scott - Glad to be of service ;-) Believe it or not, we don't even have graham crackers here! You're making me hungry for pie! I went to my fave US restaurant tonight, they show all the US sports so it's always packed with ex-pats, but I chose apple cobbler for my dessert mmmmmm

Clint - VIAGRA!!!! Love it, lol.

Don - Reports are very conflicting, the real problem now is getting a mortgage approved. All the first time buyers who thought the house price crash would give them a break are finding they can't get a mortgage to get a step on the ladder. It's certainly tough.

Melody - It's my pleasure, hope you're well :-)

Peter - I've had a couple of margaritas (it's a later summers evening here) so I can't think of anything witty to say in response to your kinky comment...but very funny!!!

Kevin - I think everyone has to be wary until the ink is dry.

Mike - My (already expensive) rent just went up by 7%, landlords certainly aren't complaining here!

Peter - Awww sweet! I've heard people say that too, I'm really worried my name has some sort of dirty meaning in other languages! Some people call their grandfathers poppy too!