UK House Prices Experience First Increase in Six Months

House prices in Britain have experienced a year-on-year increase for the first time in six months, reflecting a boost in demand from buyers and indicating a stabilization trend in the housing market, as per a recent industry survey.

Insights into Britain’s Surging Housing Market

According to data from Rightmove, the average cost of newly listed homes surged by 0.1% compared to the previous year, marking the first year-on-year rise since last summer.

In February, prices saw a notable increase, rising by 0.9% from January. This increase closely aligns with the long-term trend, as it is consistent with the monthly average rise of 1.0% observed over the past decade. This steady upward trajectory in house prices reflects the resilience of the housing market and suggests continued growth potential in the sector.

Following a period of deceleration, the property market in Britain has seen a resurgence in recent months. This surge can be attributed to a decrease in mortgage interest rates, driven by expectations that the Bank of England will reduce borrowing costs over the course of this year.

This favourable lending environment has likely spurred increased activity in the housing sector, providing a boost to both buyers and sellers alike. The decline in mortgage rates has made homeownership more accessible, leading to heightened demand and market activity.

According to data from Rightmove, the volume of agreed sales surged by 16% in the initial weeks of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, with a further 3% increase compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019. Additionally, there has been a notable 7% rise in houses entering the market, accompanied by an increase in buyer inquiries. These indicators collectively suggest a robust demand-supply dynamic, potentially signalling sustained momentum in the housing market.

Houses coming into the market along with buyer inquiries have known a 7% increase. This influx of new listings and inquiries underscores the growing momentum in the housing market, with both sellers and buyers actively participating in the market.

Mortgage Market Caution Amidst House Prices’ Growth

Tim Bannister, Director of Property Science at Rightmove, cautioned against excessive optimism despite the recent market surge, citing persistently high mortgage rates. While acknowledging the recovery in mortgage market stability, Bannister suggested that lenders may soon exhaust their capacity for further rate reductions, leading to expectations of sustained elevated rates in the near future.

“While the mortgage market has recovered its stability, there are growing signs that the room for lenders to reduce rates further is narrowing, and that rates will settle at elevated levels for the near future,” Rightmove remarked.

The survey issued Monday came up with other signs of an increase in the British housing market. This corroborates the earlier observations and suggests a broader trend of growth and resilience in the sector, bolstering confidence in its future prospects.