Brendan Burgess
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As for house prices, I was so busy looking at how much they had already fallen, that I hadn't given much thought about how far they had left to go.
While I smugly congratulated myself on paying half what my neighbours did, it never occurred to me that someday I too would be that sorry traveller.
That blissful ignorance is gone now -- within six months there was a flat on the market downstairs for about 10pc less than the asking price of mine.
When I took the plunge, I convinced myself my little corner of Dublin, the bustling south docks area, was different than the rest.
....Then there's interest rates. As a financial journalist who travels to [broken link removed] for the [broken link removed]'s press conferences, I should have seen the hikes coming.
In my defence, I did, but the 'dying to get on the property ladder Laura' somehow managed not to factor them into her sums.
Swept away with the excitement of getting my own place, I never paused to reflect on how the news I write about could impact on my own circumstances.
It's a very candid, very well written piece.
She admits her mistake in thinking that because the apartment had fallen 50%, it meant it was good value.
My comments were aimed at her seeming financial illiteracy and indeed lack of interest in things financial. I think business & financial journalists should have an interest in and an ability to understand these matters.
"I didn't really give much thought to legal fees"
"Management fees didn't feature in my calculations either."
"As for house prices, I was so busy looking at how much they had already fallen, that I hadn't given much thought about how far they had left to go."
"When I took the plunge, I convinced myself my little corner of Dublin, the bustling south docks area, was different than the rest."
The above (among other parts) suggest to me that Ms Noonan has neither of these fairly basic requirements to do her job.
I agree it's refreshing to hear people talk about making mistakes but I'm just surprised a business journalist would put their name to this article.
Tvman
The whole point is that she, a financially literate person, acted in an illiterate manner when it came to buying a house. It shows the frequent triumph of emotionalism over rationalism when it comes to house buying.
I do feel though that she feels quite sorry for herself
So did I do the right thing? If I'd given it more thought before I took the plunge last December, would I have gone ahead anyway or waited?
It's a tough call. I did the right thing for me at the time -- I needed a place to live, so I bought one. And, despite the ups and downs, I do still love it.
Undoubtedly, my timing could have been better -- but then my timing was better than that of many friends who bought at the peak.
Calling the top and the bottom of the market is largely a matter of luck, not skill, so it's not something I really beat myself up over.
and never look back
As for house prices, I was so busy looking at how much they had already fallen, that I hadn't given much thought about how far they had left to go.
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