Property prices rise across the UK
Every region of England, Scotland and Wales reported month on month property price growth with Greater London seeing the biggest rise at 1.3%, according to the latest index. Asking prices also rose, up 0.8% nationwide, the third monthly rise in a row and with the supply of properties entering the market falling, buyers have less choice.
Indeed, the data from Home.co.uk, shows that supply is down 7.6% year on year and the firm points out that this shortage will only serve to push prices higher. Optimism has been further buoyed by reports of an increase in new buyer enquiries and government support for mortgage lending and the wider housing market. However, regionally growth varies, ranging from 0.1% in the North East to 1.3% in Greater London. The London property market continues to lead the nation in all the key metrics. Home prices in the capital are up 7.3% on last year, the time on market for unsold property continues to fall and prices look set to go much higher as the volume of new property being placed on the market is down 19% year on year.
The expected seasonal rises have materialised in every region of England, Scotland and Wales. However, it remains to be seen whether the northern regions of England, Scotland and Wales, which have suffered the worst house price deflation, can convert optimism into a real concrete recovery. The reality for many home owners is that, apart from London, price changes across the rest of the UK are failing to keep pace with the Retail Price Index and therefore are going backwards in real terms. RPI is currently 3.6% whereas the average annual change in house prices across the UK, excluding London, is around 1.5%, a deficit of over 2%. The South East and the East of England are the only regions apart from London to come within a percentage point of the RPI and yet house price rises in these regions are still below inflation.
Usually the spring surge in new property sales listings exerts price pressure on unsold stock. However, the volume of new instructions is currently lower than seasonal expectations and has yet to apply any considerable pressure on the value of existing stock as evidenced by a fall in the total number of price reductions which is down 17% year on year.
The London property market is showing no sign of slowing down, with an annual price rise now at almost 2.5 times the national average. Whilst further price rises were expected, an additional 1.3% in one month is described by the firm as ‘exceptional’. For the average London home owner this now translates into a rise in equity value of over £2,100 per month. With such price growth in the capital, the gap with the rest of the country continues to widen.
Quote from PropertyCommunity.com : “New mortgage loans in the UK fell in the final quarter of 2012, down 0.5% compared with the previous three months and down 2% on the same time last year. The figures from the Financial Services
Authority (FSA) confirm other figures from organisations such as the Council of Mortgage Lenders.”
‘Another considerable price rise in the capital is truly exceptional and, combined with a relatively short time on market, is clearly excellent news for vendors,’ said Doug Shephard director at Home.co.uk. ‘Potential buyers, already frustrated by the lack of choice, will have a tendency to panic buy when faced with such spiralling home prices. It remains to be seen how high prices in the region can rise and with the combination of government backed low mortgage rates and a flood of overseas investors it would appear the sky is the limit,’ he explained.
‘As London prices continue to climb, residents are being increasingly priced out of their neighbourhoods and will be forced to look to more affordable options in the surrounding regions. However, given the London focus of the government’s economic stimulus to date, the other regions of the country have been somewhat left to support themselves. Hopefully, last month’s Budget announcements will help stimulate the regions that need it the most,’ he added.