“Ian, there is absolutely no foundation to your statement and so many people in Grimsby say house prices are too expensive. If you look at house prices during any year between 1970 to 1990 and compare it with the house price of an average home, it works out to be about 9 to 12 multiples of a person's annual income. Since 2000 it is only about 6 multiples a person's annual income. Anyone who says the wage ratio is disparate beyond historical figures is wrong, and people who think house prices will keep falling here are not basing that on any multiples of income. Technically we have never had more affordable homes than we do right now, some people just like to wear rose tinted specs thinking back to when houses cost £2,000 but forgetting the salary was much less.”

“Ian, I wish you were right however there are people who went liquid a while ago with money just sat in banks earning next to nothing in interest that will take advantage of the lower house prices and buy up some of the quality properties that are put up for sale. These people will just get richer whilst those who truely want to get onto the housing ladder will just see the gap between their dreams and reality getting ever wider.”

“House price to wage ratio still remains poor in this area.And the banks now unwilling to give a mortgage unless you can truly afford it.I think property prices will fall again this year.”

“Further to that, prices vary in different parts of our area, where people prefer to live in the so called better parts of NE Lincs, prices have held up very well, especially for properties that have been well presented and cared for. Unfortunately the not so popular areas and properties that are offered in a shabby condition have struggled badly and unless money is spent on these properties or until the market generally is on an up again, they will remain largely unsold in most cases. This is one of the main reasons why prices have not kept pace generally across the board, some vendors having to accept much discounted offers because of it.”

“The figures in the Guardian where for an average across the nation. The Land Registry works on local sales within the North East Lincs area. Prices may have fallen but if you look around the region sales are on the up. Prices just need to be right to attract buyers. First time buyers are still struggling with deposits but hopefully as the year goes on things with the banks will get better with Virgin and Tesco both intending to come into the mortgage market sometime this year.”