photo credit: dominiccampbell

More material for my ‘Ikerous’ blog arrives daily, without fail. This time it’s the turn of the credit card company. It wasn’t my intention to name any of my creditors, but I’ll make an exception if I it’s something you should know about.

I stopped paying my credit card bill a while back and now they’ve got to the point where they’re threatening to send the boyz round…literally. The letter basically says that I have two choices 1) pay the debt in full – ho bloody ho, or 2) come to an arrangement to pay an amount monthly. Neither of these options is viable in my situation as losses accrued on my 10 million pound property portfolio already exceed 1 million pounds.

Lottery funding is required

It’s got to the stage where it doesn’t even make sense to play the lottery each week - a win would be a waste of time. Losses are so high that there isn’t really any point in paying towards any debt. Will the credit card company be the ones to press the big ‘B’ for bankruptcy button? Every time I say ‘B’ I think of that bloody Belinda on Big Brother – not an entirely pleasant thought.

Credit thugs

Back to the letter – I have two options. Failure to accept either of these options the letter carries on, with regret I must add, that the debt will be sold to a third party debt collector who does door step visits – fantastic. Wouldn’t it be funny if I was Ricky Hatton…

The reality of the matter is that the credit card company in question isn’t really out of pocket. Like a fool I have left this card fully loaded for years, just paying the minimum monthly amount, so they’re probably in credit anyway. At least this won’t happen again for a while as credit isn’t really on the radar at the moment.

Technorati Tags: property, property investment, real estate, real estate investing

photo credit: net_efekt

Chocoholics and sweet tooths listen up. Is the thought of living in a gingerbread house with chocolate doorknobs your idea of heaven? Well you could be one step closer with a new housing development.

Okay I’ll be honest, it’s not quite sugar plums and dolly mixtures, but work on creating a £25 million development in the heart of the Cadbury Community is set to begin at the end of the month. The Bournville Village Trust (that’s right, Bournville, the makers of that lovely dark choccie bar, mmmmm) has received funding for 167 new homes on the Lower Shenley estate in south Birmingham.

“unprecedented landscaping”

Part of the redevelopment of the area has already been completed, consisting of 56 new bungalows, flats and homes as well as “unprecedented levels of landscaping, some public artwork and unique security lighting”. Unprecedented landscaping? Blimey. Alan Titchmarsh will be impressed.

The new development will pioneer the Netherlands’ street design ‘Home Zone’. Apparently this means that people and cars will share the same carriageway and pavements, not dangerous in the slightest because drivers will obviously stick to the walking pace speed limit of 10mph….right. Home Zone schemes also include large play areas for children and ample green space.

Flats and family homes

I must warn you though, don’t get too excited because most of the new homes will be used for social renting but 34 private homes will be available, on Parklands, ranging from two-bedroom flats to five-bedroom family houses. Let’s hope it doesn’t get too hot or they’ll melt.

Technorati Tags: property, property investment, real estate, real estate investing