Why do papers give negative stories priority over positive (from buyers viewpoint)

MrMan

Registered User
Messages
1,470
Off topic piece split from another thread - Brendan

I wonder would the Times feature any arcticles about people going well in excess of the asking price, I have my doubts. People will read into a situation as to how it suits them.
 
Last edited:
Re: €575 asking price -what 1st bid to offer?

I wonder would the Times feature any arcticles about people going well in excess of the asking price, I have my doubts. People will read into a situation as to how it suits them.

Mr. Man

Could you expand on this a bit please? It seems to be a criticism of the Irish Times and it makes no sense to me.
 
Re: €575 asking price -what 1st bid to offer?

Mr. Man

Could you expand on this a bit please? It seems to be a criticism of the Irish Times and it makes no sense to me.

The Times was the paper in question that published the article so that was my term of reference. My point was that the 'falling property market' makes news and it is rare to see a positive story out there (Times or otherwise) with regard to the property market. Dieters letter is an obvious candidate for stating that there is a serious decline, but a letter stating the flip side would not be as well received IMO.

What makes no sense to you, the perceived criticism or the viewpoint?
 
Re: €575 asking price -what 1st bid to offer?

sure it's all just balancing off what we had to put up with in the ten years prior to this year or have you forgotten
 
Re: €575 asking price -what 1st bid to offer?

sure it's all just balancing off what we had to put up with in the ten years prior to this year or have you forgotten

Forgive my ignorance, I always thought journalism required a balanced view, but I didn't realise it took 10 years to balance. Its obvious that things are going backwards somewhat, but I don't think that there is a steep decline that is commonly reported. Balanced reports are fair on everybody, you may feel this way should you decide to sell your discounted home.
 
Re: €575 asking price -what 1st bid to offer?

We're currently probably in a downward cycle of the property market. The previous 10 years were an upward cycle..which was great. During the upward cycle there was, of course, article after article about how good the market was doing. Now it's the opposite. Where's the confusion?! They can't write on houses that have achived well above the asking price because largely it's not happening any more. Period.

If you want to test out the theory why don't you start a counter thread asking for people who over the past months have achieved well in excess of the asking price for their houses. Maybe you'll be proved right? ...maybe not.
 
Re: €575 asking price -what 1st bid to offer?

Journalism balanced? Did you see the independent yesterday? Every single heading and article was negative on property (which validates your point).
But I've been reading that supplement for years and I was shocked as it has portrayed nothing but property porn up to now, most notably one of their own journalists trying to flog off her own €4m pad in Blackrock with a front page article earlier in the year.
We've had the talker uppers so now we'll have to put up with the talker downers. I don't like it either but it would be hypocritical to feel aggrieved whilst having quietly (and profitably I suspect in your case Mr Man) accepted what has gone on before now
 
Re: €575 asking price -what 1st bid to offer?

If you want to test out the theory why don't you start a counter thread asking for people who over the past months have achieved well in excess of the asking price for their houses. Maybe you'll be proved right? ...maybe not.

I don't think this is the forum for positive property spin, mostly observed has been people commenting that it is going down and you should look for €x lower offer, any positive input is generally put down as those with a self interest. I could include examples from the last 3 months that have well exceeded asking price, but I doubt they would be believed.

We've had the talker uppers so now we'll have to put up with the talker downers. I don't like it either but it would be hypocritical to feel aggrieved whilst having quietly (and profitably I suspect in your case Mr Man) accepted what has gone on before now
I'm not arguing that there is an obvious change in the market, but I don't agree the the property boom went unchallenged. Since late 1990's early2000 there has been a constant flow of economists stating that this would be the year that the bubble will burst etc, only for the opposite to occur, the papers got great revenue from ads, and TV took hold of the great new interest i.e property investment, but there was a counter argument.

Now you have the self congratulating economists and anyone putting up a positive outlook is condemned as a spoofer.

Could you imagine in the heyday of the boom a programme being aired was the polar opposite to futureshock, i don't think so.
 
Re: €575 asking price -what 1st bid to offer?

I could include examples from the last 3 months that have well exceeded asking price, but I doubt they would be believed.

That's me told! QED. Any particular reason why the masses would not buy it?

No seriously, in your original post simply state you only want posts affirming the theory. (Put it in letting off steam!)
 
Re: €575 asking price -what 1st bid to offer?

It underlines why we ban discussion of house prices.

When they were going up, the conspiracy theorists accused the VIs of preventing negative newspaper coverage.

Now Mr Man is, equally bizarrely, seeming to suggest some conspiracy to prevent positve coverage.

I wonder would the Times feature any arcticles about people going well in excess of the asking price

Now I understand why your post made no sens. You referred to people going well in excess of the asking price, whereas you meant properties. I thought you were referring to some people offering well in excess of the asking price.

If an auctioneer sells a property in excess of the Guide Price, it gets very good coverage in the newspapers.
 
Re: Why do papers not report good news on property prices?

Now Mr Man is, equally bizarrely, seeming to suggest some conspiracy to prevent positve coverage

Quite bizarre indeed, almost stranger than fiction. The papers in my view are providing for the sentiment thats out there, which is negative right now. I have always balanced my views on this forum with the fact that I agree that the market is in decline, I just feel that it is not as woefully bad as is generally reported.

I realise I'm going against the current feelings on the market and the majority on this site would have conflicting views to me on this subject, but I'm still stickin to my guns.
 
Re: Why do papers not report good news on property prices?

The papers in my view are providing for the sentiment thats out there,

newspapers motive is to sell papers. 'property prices crashing' sells papers. 'Property prices booming' sells papers.
'Property doing ok, some rising and some falling' headlines do not sell papers.
 
Re: Why do papers not report good news on property prices?

I'm with soy on this one. It all about selling the papers and headlines do that!
 
Re: Why do papers not report good news on property prices?

News is by its nature inherently negative. It's of much more interest to the human psyche to report on where things have gone wrong rather than point out where it is okay or not malfunctioning.

the only exception to this is where something is incredibily positive or a substantial progress - even then you'll read or hear about a downside.

When property prices were rising, there were many reports about lack of affordability, crippling morgages, developers building too small or badly constructed homes, the lack of houses etc etc.

People seem to be much more interested in bad news than good, so anyone seeking reassurance about the state of the market through the media is barking up the wrong tree!
 
Re: Why do papers not report good news on property prices?

Surely rising/falling property prices can be positive/negative depending on whterh you are buying/selling? So asking "why do papers not report good news on property prices" is a nonsense
 
Re: Why do papers not report good news on property prices?

Now you have the self congratulating economists and anyone putting up a positive outlook is condemned as a spoofer.

You'd be hard put to get anyone to say things are getting better now. Houses are going down, thats a fact.

Even the houses that are going above the asking have been reduced so the excess sale price is below what they would have went a year ago.
 
Re: Why do papers not report good news on property prices?

You'd be hard put to get anyone to say things are getting better now. Houses are going down, thats a fact.

Even the houses that are going above the asking have been reduced so the excess sale price is below what they would have went a year ago.

I agree on your first point, I haven't said otherwise.
Your second point is where I find fault. There have been reduced asking prices leading to price going in excess, but there have also been houses that have continued to reach high levels. It tends not to be in your average estate because of supply and demand, but the misconception that no properties are selling (well) in excess of asking is wrong.

Surely rising/falling property prices can be positive/negative depending on whterh you are buying/selling? So asking "why do papers not report good news on property prices" is a nonsense
Whether you are buying or selling can't change what is in print, your post isn't exactly clear as to why you consider my post as nonsense
 
Re: Why do papers not report good news on property prices?

I have read several reports in recent months along the lines of "current market sentiment/situation is good news for buyers".
 
Re: €575 asking price -what 1st bid to offer?

point was that the 'falling property market' makes news and it is rare to see a positive story out there (Times or otherwise)

As a potential first time buyer, I would consider a falling property market as a positive story. This is the point made by Welfarite earlier.

Furthermore, if a falling property market IS the news, then why would we want the paper to publish otherwise ( myhome.ie funded "soft-landing" property pull-outs aside).
 
Re: Why do papers not report good news on property prices?

As a potential first time buyer, I would consider a falling property market as a positive story. This is the point made by Welfarite earlier.

I see now, I didn't write the title or start the thread you see, it seems to have been done on my behalf. I haven't said at any time to my knowledge 'why do papers not report good news on the property market'. I would totally understand that good news means something different to everyone. My point has been that 'positive' news has only been on the buyers side. Obviously it is a buyers market, but there are areas where this isn't the case and as well as being unbalanced it is also misleading to buyers expecting a deal.

I feel there was a little mischief making here by someone who may not agree with my views.

Furthermore, if a falling property market IS the news, then why would we want the paper to publish otherwise ( myhome.ie funded "soft-landing" property pull-outs aside).

I guess I'm banging my head against a wall as I expected.
 
Back
Top