Let’s talk repossession for a bit, the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) figures released recently show that lenders only took 10,200 properties into possession in the 4th quarter of 2009. This figure was 13% lower than in the 3rd quarter but repossessions for the whole of 2009 reached 46,000, a level not seen since 1995.

On the up side, the ‘09 repossession figures were significantly lower than the 75,000 predicted at the start of year but on the down side there are 53,000 repossessions and 205,000 arrears cases forecast for 2010. So as is usually the way with an unstable market, we don’t really know what we’ll see in the near future.

Fancy a new home with a difference? How’s about a decommissioned oil rig?

No really, according to a new report by the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Institution of Civil Engineers, North Sea oil platforms should be towed to coastal areas at risk of flooding from rising sea levels. This would see them converted into homes, shops and mini towns and means those considering a quick house sale so they can move inland now have another option.

You may laugh (i did) but UK Climate Projections predict that by 2095, just 85 years from now, sea levels would rise by up to 76cm. Already, about ten million people live in areas at risk of flooding in England and Wales and this proposal suggests an air of British spirit, instead of retreating, attack and embrace all in one.