... in the property ladder, that is. Stamp Duty's the reason, according to the Telegraph, why increasing numbers of young people are stretching themselves to snapping point in the quest for the family home that might come in useful in perhaps 15 years time. Let's face it, moving home is stupidly expensive. If a young couple is lucky enough to be able to afford £1,700 in monthly mortgage repayments right now - then it makes perfect sense to take advantage of a period of low-cost debts, buy the big house immediately and avoid repeatedly dumping £20,000 in taxes and fees with every rung in between. Make no mistake, though - it's a choice for the privileged few. And I fear for some of them when the family comes along, half the earnings (at least temporarily) vanish and interest rates head up to more usual levels.