Quote from Visaria:
Btw, not sure why multimillionaires and billionaires would come to live in a cesspool/shithole. NY City would be the preferred destination for anyone who wanted that, i would have thought! [/B]
Yes, I often asked myself the same question. But actually billionaires don't live in London much, they purchase houses, which is very different. They believe, or are made to believe that it is a safe investment.
They, together with a large number of top bankers and young wealthy people from all over the world have led to this huge housing bubble in the last 25 years. Also, New York's economic/political fall in 2001 has contributed.
London is indeed a horrible city and houses are, per se, worthless. High price have been made possible by its strategic financial, historical and political situation in the Western World.
During financial crises, London house prices have suffered more than anywhere else. Not saying that house prices will fall dramatically as a result of this crisis and even if they did, it would be a slow decline, as alternatives are not easy.