Many conversations about buying a house usually go about something like this:
Colleague: I bought my house five years ago. It cost me £300,000. The area is getting a lot of new housing developments and it's proximity to London means the price will keep rising.
Me: Woah £300k!?! That is a lot of money for a house. I am still renting.
Colleague: But you're paying someone's mortgage.
Me: BLANK STARE