It's probably me but.....

The shortfall would almost certainly not even exist if people had
invested the money saved whenever there was an interest rate drop.

I used to think interest rate drops were put there to enable me to go
to the Alps more often but I'm not stupid enough to go crying because
the money I invested in an endowment policy was never going to be
enough to pay the house off if I'd kept it for 25 years.

 

It might have cost a lot more to buy in the first place, mind. ISTR
Woking was super pricey in the early 90's when I was considering a job
there.

 

isn't it just the /part/ of Essex you're in that's the problem?

Surely your house would be worth a fuckload more if it were in, for
example, Great Dunmow ,or even Hatfield Heath?

 

how'd you feel about Herts?

I've become rather fond of it in the 9 years I've lived next door.