In November alone prices increased by £1,400 in November, reaching new record and the LSL/Acadata index also shows that prices have increased on an annual basis in all regions for the second month in a row, signalling a broad based housing market recovery.
By the end of 2013 the index predicts that sales are set to be 16% higher than they were in 2012, adding to the positive outlook for the residential property market going into 2014. The data from LSL follows a release from e.surv last week, which showed monthly home loans in November topped 70,00 for the first time since January 2008.
‘The housing market is almost unrecognisable from 12 months ago. Not only have average prices climbed to a new record high but we’ve seen an increase in every region for the second month running, a true sign that the nationwide recovery is really taking off,’ said David Newnes, director of LSL Property Services.
‘Competition is strong through rising demand and supply of new instructions not growing, a factor that will continue to prop up prices in the long term. Confidence is higher throughout the market, with the Help to Buy scheme and record low interest rates contributing to the positivity,’ he pointed out.
He also said that over the second part of this year, consumer confidence has snowballed as the economic picture improves, leading to a significant rise in sales. ‘The increased availability of mortgages, in part thanks to the government’s schemes, and the greater range of mortgage deals on offer has swung open the door to a new host of first time buyers, making the distant dream of home ownership now a reality for thousands,’ explained Newnes.
He added that with all 10 regions in England and Wales seeing positive movement in prices on an annual basis for the second time in three years the positive outlook is set to continue. Also, annually prices have increased in over 80% of local areas up and down the country, the highest percentage since September 2010.
‘The trajectory is clearly upwards. Record high house prices have not only been recorded in the capital, but also in areas of the South East including Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire and Cardiff. However, there is still uneven growth in property values across the country. London prices continue to race ahead in a different gear with 9.2% annual growth in the capital vastly outshining the rest of the UK. Between August and October sales in London were up 27% on the same three months in 2012, reflecting intense demand for properties in London, both from domestic and abroad,’ explained Newnes.
‘In his Autumn Statement the Chancellor unveiled plans to unleash a further £1 billion to unblock housing development to address the critical shortage in supply. This will play a role in preventing prices rising too far too fast. But this is only the beginning, and it’s vital that house building is given greater attention in 2014 and beyond, in order to ensure the recovery rolls forward at a sustainable level,’ he added.
