Well here we are in a new millennium (yes, that's right - can't you count or something?) and my one big bit of advice to kick it off is: watch telecoms. Look for downsizing, de-mergers, cash-calls and takeovers as they all wake up to the fact that the billions they gambled on WAP is never going to pay off.
But don't worry about the bad debts coming back to haunt lenders: the worst-case big lender has just, it claims, a mere 2% of its total debt portfolio with telecoms (so expect no more than 25% falls in some profits, and don't worry about the Bank of England's warning to banks to reduce exposure to telecoms debt). Apart from that, have a look at Hardrada (Smallheath, Birmingham), a building materials firm who have just launched a range of cellar-kits. The argument goes: more demand for housing + more NIMBY resistance to developments + tougher planning and building regs = BUILD DOWNWARDS. Building and planning regs don't apply to below-ground developments because they don't involve structures, just 'holes', and what the neighbours can't see don't hurt them. Hardrada have a range of lining, insulation, storage, lighting, heating and ventilation units for most sizes and shapes of cavity. You mix and match, or buy complete kits for holes of a standard size and shape.This is probably the way forward for squeezing extra rental income from existing properties, or just getting that den and snooker room you always promised yourself.