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Difference between asking and selling prices in Scotland narrows
Average asking prices across Scotland increased by £2,000 and the average selling price increased by over £8,500 to £162,122 in the second quarter of the year, narrowing the gap between the two to less than 1%. Flats continue to sell above their asking price typically selling for around £18,000 more, up from £11,000 last quarter, according to the latest index from s1homes. This means that the average selling price for flats increased by over £8,500 to £126,844 while the average asking price rose by around £1,500 to £108,472. Both the average asking and average selling price of terraced houses increased this quarter, up by £4,000 and £9,000 respectively. Terraced houses on average sell for £11,000 more than their asking price up from £7,000 in the previous quarter. This quarter the average selling price for a terraced property has increased and is once again higher than the average asking price. It increased by over £8,000 to £150,458. There is less than £1,000 of a difference between the average asking price and average selling price this quarter. Detached houses are the only property type where a Reality Gap exists and this has remained at 13% for a second consecutive quarter as both the average asking and selling prices increased. Typically detached houses sell for £37,000 less than their asking price. A breakdown of the figures shows that in Argyll and Bute the Reality Gap has narrowed significantly from £47,000 to £28,000 driven by the increase in the average selling price. The average selling price increased by £21,000 to £156,495. In Ayrshire the average selling price has increased by £10,000, narrowing the Reality Gap to £21,000, down from £31,000 last quarter. For a second consecutive quarter the average asking price remains relatively static at £146,336. The Reality Gap has narrowed in East Lothian where on average properties are selling for £27,000 below their asking price compared with almost £36,000 in the previous quarter. The average selling price has increased by £15,000 to £209,349. In East Renfrewshire, the Reality Gap has narrowed to 6.5% with properties on average selling for £16,000 less than their asking price. Both the average asking price and average selling price have increased, rising by £9,000 and £16,500 respectively. In Edinburgh, properties are once again typically selling for more than their asking price. This quarter both the average asking price and average selling price increased, the average asking price by £6,000 and the average selling price by £12,500. In Falkirk, the Reality Gap has narrowed from £24,000 to £15,000 despite the average asking price increasing by £4,500 as the average selling price increased by over £13,500. The Reality Gap in Fife has widened slightly this quarter with properties typically selling for around £11,000 less than their asking price. The average asking price and average selling price this quarter both increased by around £2,000. In Glasgow/Dunbartonshire both the average asking price and average selling price have increased by £3,500 and £3,000 respectively. The Reality Gap remained at 5% with properties typically selling for almost… Continue reading
UK house prices up 11.7% year on year and national index reaches new record
UK house prices increased by 11.7% in the year to July 2014, up from 10.2% in the year to June 2014, according to the latest figures from the Office of National Statistics. House price annual inflation was 12% in England, 7.4% in Wales, 7.6% in Scotland and 4.5% in Northern Ireland. The index report says that overall house prices are increasing strongly across the UK, with prices in London again showing the highest growth. Annual house price increases in England were driven by an annual increase in London of 19.1% and to a lesser extent increases in the South East at 12.2% and the East at 10.6%. Excluding London and the South East, UK house prices increased by 7.9% in the 12 months to July 2014 and on a seasonally adjusted basis, average house prices increased by 1.6% between June and July 2014. In July 2014, prices paid by first time buyers were 13.5% higher on average than in July 2013. For owner occupiers prices increased by 10.9% for the same period. The mix adjusted house price index reached a record level of 206.6, some 2.7% higher than June 2014 when it reached 201.2, and 11.4% higher than the pre financial crisis peak of 185.5 in January 2008. David Newnes, director of Reeds Rains and Your Move estate agents, pointed out that while what’s happening in London may be eye-catching, it is like looking through a kaleidoscope and skews any view of the current total housing landscape. ‘Peeling back the regional layers gives a much more informed view of the core reality of the current market. According to our own research, house price growth slowed across all regions except for London, the South East and East Anglia in July. While these three regions continue to set new house price highs, the rest of the country is nowhere near these levels of growth,’ he explained. ‘Most recently we’re seeing asking prices in the capital start to be reined in, which will apply the brakes on annual house price inflation as the market steadies. With evidence of London starting to cool off after strong growth earlier in the year, it is critical that the underlying momentum that has stimulated much needed increased volume in the rest of the market is allowed freedom to keep moving, whilst any price rises are kept steady and under control,’ said Newnes. ‘Further afield, it is critical that support mechanisms like Help to Buy aren’t dismantled. Compared to the nadir of 2008/2012, activity in the housing market has improved, but is not completely out of the woods yet, and still needs to recapture some of the vitality of its pre-recession health,’ he concluded. Peter Rollings, chief executive officer of Marsh & Parsons, believes that the market is returning to business as usual. 'UK house price growth is persevering with its upward climb, but the stride is steadying with prices rising an orderly 1.6% in the month to July 2014. However, London remains the snag in the… Continue reading
Asking price growth in UK slowing, latest index shows
UK asking prices increased by 0.2% in August, the eighth month in a row that they have moved upwards, the latest index shows. But asking price growth is slowing, especially in London and overall the average annual appreciation fell 0.3% to 9%, according to the data from Home.co.uk. But these headline figures mask some variation. London asking prices dipped under the weight of increased supply, ending a 20 month rally and average prices were unchanged in Scotland and the North West. Prices rose in all other English regions and Wales. Even within London there is considerable variation and overall the supply of property in the city is up 33% compared with August last year. Stratford tops the London property hotspot league, table with home prices leaping 45% over the last 12 months. Overall, the UK property market is cooling. The average asking price for a UK home has risen only 0.2% over the last month and 0.8% over the last three months. Correspondingly, London prices slipped 0.1% over the last month, yet have risen 9.8% over the last six months. The firm says that tightening mortgage credit in the wake of mortgage regulation, coupled with increased supply, has served to quench further growth in London home prices for the time being. ‘Home price inflation still persists outside of London but at an attenuated pace. Moreover, the surge in supply that has halted London price rises has not yet spread to adjacent regions,’ said Doug Shephard, director of Home.co.uk. The Asking Price Index also shows that certain regional property markets continue to be strong performers. East Anglia, the East Midlands, the South East and South West all show six month price rises of over 4%. Others, however, are showing much weaker price growth. Home prices in the North East are still falling behind inflation, rising only 1.2% over the last six months and by only 0.6% over the last year. Shephard also pointed out that across the UK, supply remains historically tight, showing a rise of only 3% on the already record low levels observed 12 months ago. Supply of properties entering the market fell the most in East Anglia, down 6% over the last 12 months. ‘Looking back further to 2007, we can see that it is actually the Greater London market that has contracted the most, by 65% over the last seven years, despite a recent surge in property entering the market,’ he explained. Of the regions, the East Anglia and South East property markets have contracted the most, down 63% and 62% respectively. Overall, the mainland UK property marketplace offers 55% less choice to buyers today than it did in 2007. Marketing times are beginning to rise across all regions and London, as is seasonally expected. However, further analysis across the regions reveals real improvement in every region compared to this month last year, although the relative pace of the regions remains highly diverse. Continue reading
