Home Builders Federation survey reveals 18% drop since last year, despite rise in homes sales
The number of active housebuilding sites has hit a new low, according to figures seen by Building. Read the rest of this entry »
August 22nd, 2009
Figure is still 9% lower than same time last year and 39% below 2006 peak
Housing starts rose 63% in the three months to June on the previous quarter according to new government figures. There were an estimated 29,980 seasonally adjusted housing starts in England in the June quarter 2009, which is almost double the number produced in the run-up to Christmas in the depths of the recession. Read the rest of this entry »
Government insists eco-towns work with locals
August 19th, 2009
Developers of first wave of eco-towns told to have closer ties with existing communities
Eco-towns must make plans to help existing communities the government has said this week.
The new guidance, which comes as the government begins a consultation with the developers of the first wave of eco-towns, is seen as an attempt to forestall further local criticism of the troubled initiative. Read the rest of this entry »
House prices fall 2.2% in August
August 17th, 2009
Figures from Rightmove show sellers cutting asking prices even further this month in attempt to speed up sales
House prices experienced the biggest monthly fall so far this year in August as summer sellers cut asking prices to drive through transactions, according to property website Rightmove.
Its latest figures showed the average asking price fell 2.2% this month – equivalent to £5102 – compared with a 0.6% rise in July.
The fall came in spite of a scarcity of stock coming on line and increasing levels of optimism in the market. Rightmove said the drop was likely to be seasonal as those selling in summer months tend to be more “aggressive” with prices because they need to sell but know there is a smaller pool of buyers.
Miles Shipside, commercial director at Rightmove, said the figures reinforced the company’s view that prices will bump along the bottom before returning to consistent growth.
He said: “After several months of activity and prices revving upwards from last winter’s low point, both will start to hit the limiter without more mortgage finance. In spite of pent-up demand, the market and pricing is boxed in by restrictive lending criteria put in place to ration mortgages given the lack of funds available to lenders.”
However, market sentiment continued to improve this month. Rightmove said 75% of home owners did not expect prices to fall in the next year.
The number of new sellers in August was 48% below pre-recession levels, it added.
By Olivia Boyd. taken from Building.co.uk
Homebuyer enquiries up but supply still low, says RICS
August 17th, 2009
UK housing market survey shows 63% of surveyors note a rise in enquiries from new buyers
Interest in the housing market is continuing to grow, according to the latest housing market survey by the RICS. Read the rest of this entry »
House prices forecast to rise next year
August 14th, 2009
New CEBR predictions suggest a further 3% decline this year but 2% higher prices by the end of 2010
House prices will grow by 2% by the end of 2010, according to new predictions from the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR). Read the rest of this entry »
New mortgages rise 23% in June
August 12th, 2009
But total value of lending still strongly down on a year earlier, says CML
Banks gave 23% more mortgages for house purchases in June than in the previous month, according to the latest figures from lenders. Read the rest of this entry »
House prices will take five years to regain 2007 levels, says NHF
August 3rd, 2009
National Housing Federation research forecasts 12.2% fall this year and 4.6% the next, with recovery starting in 2011
House prices will not return to their pre-slump levels until 2014, according to new research from the National Housing Federation (NHF).
Property returns drop to around 0%
July 30th, 2009
Data reveals investor confidence creeping back, but sharp fall in commercial activity in June
Housing market sees North/South divide opening up
July 27th, 2009
Hometrack survey suggests split in market conditions between northern and southern areas of England