The most recent Halifax house price Index has revealed that the average property price in Britain has remained static during the last three months to May.
According to the report, the average price of a home in the UK remained at 9.2% in the last month. This was the same as in April and is the lowest level for the last six months.
House price growth levels
Further data from the analysis suggests that property values in the three months to May were 1.4% greater than what they were in the preceding three months. This was just below the 1.5% seen to April and the lowest since November 2015.
Martin Ellis, housing economist, said, ‘house prices in the three months to May were 1.4% higher than in the previous quarter. The annual rate of growth was unchanged at 9.2%; the lowest since last autumn. Low interest rates, increasing employment and rising real earnings, continue to support housing demand. The strength of demand, combined with very low supply, is causing house price to rise at a brisk pace in quarterly and annual terms.’[1]
‘Increasing affordability issues, caused by a sustained period of higher-than-earnings house price growth, should curb housing demand and result in some slowdown in house price growth as the year progresses.’[1]
House price growth stays static in May
Remarkable resilience
Ian Thomas, co-founder and director of LendInvest, said, ‘the resilience of house price growth is remarkable. Even now, that the Stamp Duty stampede of the first quarter is behind us and with the uncertainty of the EU referendum result dampening activity, house prices are still holding up. Demand continues to outpace supply; there simply aren’t enough houses being built. The latest disappointing housebuilding stats make this abundantly clear. The Government’s dream of one million new homes by 2020 simply isn’t realistic without a fundamental change of approach.’[1]
Concluding, Mr Thomas noted, ‘as a result, house prices will continue to rise. Investors will continue to enjoy great returns from putting their money into property, while aspiring home buyers face a tricky time getting the sums to add up in order to move up the housing ladder.’[1]
[1] http://www.propertyreporter.co.uk/finance/house-price-growth-remains-static.html