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UK house prices up 7.2% year on year, latest ONS data shows
UK house prices increased by 7.2% in the year to February, down from 8.4% in the year to January 2015, according to the latest official figures from the Office of National Statistics. House price annual inflation was 7.4% in England, 1.1% in Wales, 6.4% in Scotland and 14.2% in Northern Ireland. The data confirms that annual house price growth is showing signs of slowing across the majority of the UK. Annual house price increases in England were driven by an annual increase in the East of 10.7% and in London of 9.4%. Excluding London and the South East, UK house prices increased by 5.9% in the 12 months to February 2015. The data also shows that on a seasonally adjusted basis, average house prices increased by 0.6% between January and February 2015. In February 2015, prices paid by first time buyers were 7.4% higher on average than in February 2014. For owner-occupiers (existing owners), prices increased by 7.2% for the same period. It suggests that actions taken by the Bank of England’s Policy Committee to dampen the growth of last year have done their job and put the housing market on a more stable footing for the short term at least, according to Peter Williams, executive director of the Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association (IMLA). ‘Seeing annual price rises dip below an annual increase of 6% outside London and the South East is a step in the right direction to improve affordability,’ he said. ‘However, in part the slowdown has only been possible by squeezing potential buyers out of the market by restricting access to finance, creating some extra breathing space for politicians to get to grips with the fundamental supply/demand imbalance,’ he added. Continue reading
London emerging prime property proves robust ahead of election
Prices in emerging prime property areas in South West London have remained robust in the first quarter of 2015 despite the uncertainties presented by the election, according to a new index. The top performers in terms of capital growth in the first three months of 2015 was Clapham, up 5.5% after a weaker fourth quarter in 2014, followed by Southfields and Earlsfield, up 2.9% compared to last quarter. The emerging prime index from Douglas & Gordon also shows that investors have been attracted by the strong rental growth and some areas have become hotspots for young professionals and overseas investors and tenants who are drawn to upmarket developments. Investors are continuing to flock to smaller units, particularly flats, and this is due to attractive prices and high yields of 3.7% to 5% compared to 2.2% and 3.7% in prime areas. The index report points out that the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s clear signal in the Autumn Statement that properties under £900,000 would be free of political interference has meant that demand for properties under this threshold has remained strong. When it comes to properties over £2 million there has been little pick up from the second half of 2014 and the report says this is due to the fallout from the overhaul in stamp duty structure announced last year and uncertainties ahead of the election, particularly the potential introduction of a mansion tax if certain political parties come to power. Properties in Putney and Battersea, which saw spectacular growth in 2013 and 2014 thanks to well-heeled families seeking family houses, saw a standstill in prices in the first quarter of 2015. The report says this is because property prices in these areas, which generally have more large properties than flats, are now approaching the politically sensitive £2 million barrier, which is the threshold for the mansion tax if introduced. ‘This quarter’s index confirms that emerging prime has become the sweet spot of the professional private rental sector. One bed flats in the £300,000 price range are one of the best investments, given their protection from political interference and the demand from young professionals who increasingly feel more at home in places like Clapham than Central London,’ said the firm’s executive director Ed Mead. ‘It is very telling that for many buyers, both domestic and overseas, emerging prime areas are achieving a social cachet they’ve have never had. While the pre-election period is causing capital growth of larger properties to pause, we still think there is still some way to go on value,’ he pointed out. ‘For instance in Clapham we see demand continuing in the long term given the amount of undeveloped stock in the area. We anticipate the upward trend in prices to be reinstated if no mansion tax is introduced,’ he added. Continue reading
Financial barriers preventing US home renters from buying, new research suggests
Many US home buyers can break even in less than two years if they buy a home instead of renting it, but financial barriers and preference are big factors in the decision to continue renting. A new report covering the fourth quarter of 2014 from US real estate data firm Zillow reveals that buyers break even on a home purchase in less than two years in 66% metro areas. It also says that some 20% of renters say they prefer to rent than buy with more than half, 53%, say financial limitations keep them from buying. Of renters surveyed by Zillow some 16% said they can't qualify for a home loan, 18% said they can't afford taxes, maintenance and other costs associated with home ownership, 13% said they don't have enough savings for a down payment and about a quarter said they struggle to pay their rent. According to the survey, 82% of renters are long term renters, and 57% are long term renters who have lived for a long time in the same home. Just 14% said they aren't staying long enough in the same place to buy. Zillow's survey sheds light on why some renters are not buying homes, despite historically low interest rates, prices that remain below peak levels in many areas and rising rents, however, some 20% of renters said they simply prefer to rent. ‘If the buy versus rent decision were about simple maths, we'd likely have millions more home buyers in the market, because the equation is tilted heavily in favour of buying,’ said Zillow chief economist Stan Humphries. ‘But no matter what the numbers say, buying a home is a huge commitment. Every day, Americans make decisions to buy or rent based on any number of personal dynamics, including preference, flexibility needs, family factors and, yes, financial considerations,’ he explained. ‘There is no right or wrong choice, and it's important that America's housing market maintains a number of affordable options for renters and buyers, no matter their preferences,’ he added. The report points out that over the last year, as home price appreciation has slowed down, the length of time it takes to break even on a home purchase grew slightly in most major metros. The breakeven analysis looks at how long it takes to come out ahead on a home purchase versus renting the same home, recouping the costs of buying, including taxes and maintenance. Among the top 35 metro areas, Dallas-Fort Worth had the lowest breakeven horizon, at 1.2 years. Indianapolis and Detroit were next at 1.3 years. The highest breakeven horizons were in Los Angeles, at 5.1 years, Washington D.C. at 4.2 and San Diego at 3.8 years. The national average is 1.9 years. Zillow's breakeven horizon incorporates all costs associated with buying and renting, including upfront payments, closing costs, anticipated monthly rent and mortgage payments, insurance, taxes, utilities, maintenance, and renovation costs. The horizon also factors in home equity growth for buyers, and, for… Continue reading
