Owning your own home

...if the agent lies about the lease length and you've spunked a grand on fees before you find oput the truth (and you don't take advice so you do not realise the full financial implications of the short lease).

You didn't mention that.

Do it, but look at the cons not just the pros. And don't expect house price rises - they might happen but prices are still very high by historical standards and arguably the best case scenario is 1 or 2% growth per year for the next 10 years whilst we dig ourselves out of this hole, (worst case scenario involves the rise of the east, decline of the west and us all being fucked so don't worry about that!)

I'm fairly up on the state of the economy, as I work in that area. I've done all my research, am not going into this blind, and am sick of debating potential rises/falls. No offence to anyone on here, but there is nothing more futile. Most of my reasons are non-financial.