Nathan Brooker

I don't buy it, it's got to be a drugs thing, right?

This has been confusing me, too! Except I'm also seeing individual floss sticks everywhere. I often feel out of touch, but this something else...

New homes: even if you build them, there’s no one to buy them We’re often told housing demand exceeds supply — so why are new homes struggling to be built and bought?

New homes: even if you build them, there’s no one to buy them on.ft.com/3Levumr | opinion

Google is absolutely insisting to me that 9 people die in Hamlet and I'm not having it. R+G, fine. But King Hamlet? Do me a favour. 8.

What’s your home worth? Why no one seems to have the faintest idea [FREE TO READ] The UK favours the ‘bedrooms and vibes’ method of valuing homes — which is particularly bad in slow markets

In the UK we prefer the highly scientific 'bedrooms-and-vibes' model of valuing a home. Great column from @resi-analyst.bsky.social on.ft.com/4gS571f

As with the Tilly Norwood scam, journalists really don’t have to play along with the AI industry’s propaganda and publicity stunts

A History of England in 25 Poems — verses in search of a national character Catherine Clarke’s ambitious and often surprising collection tells the country’s messy, contested story, from the Venerable Bede to Liz Truss

"Englishness is in crisis. But it’s comforting to know that it has been for more than a thousand years," writes @ncbrooker.bsky.social in this wonderful review of the newly published A History of England in 25 Poems. www.ft.com/content/6948... via @financialtimes.com

It’s been a terrible year to graduate and find a job [FREE TO READ] Students are making more job applications than ever — and their success rate is among the lowest in at least 30 years

Bleak, brilliant reporting from Bethan Staton in this weekend's FT Money.

This year's cohort of graduates face more competition than ever— and the number of jobs available for them is in freefall.
It's little wonder students feel disillusioned on.ft.com/45RFJni

(you can find @resi-analyst.bsky.social 's property column in print in FT Money on the first Saturday of every month)

Yet another reason to buy FT Money...
www.ft.com/content/e4e4...

What is the point of owning a mansion in Mayfair? London’s luxury property market has bigger problems than the ‘exodus’ of wealthy non-doms

What is the point of owning a mansion in Mayfair?

London’s luxury property market has bigger problems than the ‘exodus’ of wealthy non-doms
My latest article for the FT: on.ft.com/4lTCOBf

Excellent piece from @resi-analyst.bsky.social. Housing transactions are collapsing and we desperately need property tax reform. Shifting from stamp duty & council tax to an annual property tax could increase transactions & the tax take, increase labour productivity and growth.
on.ft.com/4jiWbSn

Thanks Toby (It's a thing called "Advanced Sharing" on the FT app. Makes the first 300 clicks free 😉)

Is UK house price growth a thing of the past? [FREE TO READ] We could be in line for a bump in prices — but property is not going to be the money spinner it once was

Another highlight from FT Money this weekend: @resi-analyst.bsky.social on whether UK house price growth is a thing of the past. For many that will come as a considerable relief 🍾 - unless you were relying on price inflation for your economic wellbeing... on.ft.com/42RjkX7

How the UK tax code got in such a mess [FREE TO READ] Near-constant political tinkering means we have by far the most complex tax legislation in the world

Superb cover for FT Money this weekend by @samfr.bsky.social on how political tinkering has given the UK the longest, most maddening tax code in the world - on.ft.com/42XnrPT

This is the most brilliant read. Seriously. You will not regret it. Here's another free link... on.ft.com/4jTiMWd

Thanks Pam! Glad you enjoyed it. And don't worry, there's MUCH more in the book. (There's a handful of points where the narrative differs, too, since we disagree on which recollection to include)

The haunting of West Chapple Farm [FREE TO READ] Three gruesome killings in the 1970s and the writer who hasn’t been able to stop investigating them

So long-form true crime is a bit of a departure for me. But it's such a strange, sad tale - oh yeah, and it features a criminologist named Colombo; and a cameo from a former poet laureate who gets out a ouija board. (300 clicks free) on.ft.com/4lPOCVo

We found two articles with the same title as ours. One from 1969 (with nice illustrations from Edward Gorey); one from 193û

Superb reporting here from Sally Hickey on why it's not just widespread price gouging that's to blame. But what surprised me was how long-running wedding cost anxiety is.

The wedding racket: how tying the knot became so expensive [FREE TO READ] Vendors are often accused of raising prices whenever they hear the word ‘wedding’ — but there’s more to it than that

I still can't quite fathom these numbers. One bride-to-be booked her wedding venue, then had to use one of the five 'approved' caterers. For 80 guests, for canapés and two courses (both sharing platters), one quoted her just shy of £18,000(!). No wonder people think it's a racket - on.ft.com/4lPpa2t

The problem with wealth taxes Taxing the rich is a tantalising prospect for the cash-strapped UK government — but imposing a levy that is both fair and effective is fraught with difficulty

Given the complexities, the likely backlash and the relatively small revenue gain, it seems unlikely that the UK will opt for a wealth tax. New piece for the FT
www.ft.com/content/fc33...

I might start posting things...

I've seriously got to work on my social media presence if neither of you knew I was here...

nah.

Are you a champion stockpicker? There’s still time to enter FT Money’s 2025 competition

It's your last chance to enter the FT's stock picking contest! Pick 5 stocks, go long or short, and in a year's time, the person with the best-performing portfolio is the winner! Imagine the glory! (entries close at midnight) www.ft.com/content/e9bb...

Astonishing article in today’s FT on the private parking industry. Of course, private equity is involved.

Survey is here (and I think you only need to be a registered user rather than subscriber): markets.ft.com/data/stockpi...

Rules: pick a portfolio of five stocks (long or short, equal weighting) and next year, if your returns are greater than all the other 1000s of players you could win... zero pounds. But you do get a tour of the office (if you want, we won't force you)

FT stock picking contest: who were the big hitters of 2024? The winners of last year’s competition revealed — plus how you can sign up for the 2025 contest

The FT's annual stockpicking competition opens today! Enter here (markets.ft.com/data/stockpi...). This is how last year's contest went (thoughts and prayers to anyone who tried to short bitcoin) www.ft.com/content/71f4...