Tag Archives: real-estate
Property prices outside Dublin rising faster year on year, latest data shows
Residential property prices in Ireland increased by 0.9% across the country in July compared to the previous month but values in Dublin price growth is slowing, the latest official figures show. On an annual basis prices are 9.4% higher nationwide but in Dublin they are 9% higher than a year ago. It is the first time since the middle of 2013 that prices in the capital city have risen by less than 10% year on year. A breakdown of the data from the Central Statistical Office shows that Dublin house prices rose by 0.6% in July whilst apartment prices increased by 2.7%. However, a CSO spokesman said that it should be noted that the sub-indices for apartments are based on low volumes of observed transactions and consequently suffer from greater volatility than other series. Outside of Dublin residential property prices rose by 1.2% in July and prices were up 9.6% compared with July 2014. So prices outside of Dublin are now rising faster on an annual basis. At national level residential property prices were 36.9% lower than their peak level in 2007. Dublin house prices were 36.3% lower than their peak, Dublin apartment prices were 40.6% lower than their peak and Dublin residential property prices overall were 37.9% lower than their highest level. Outside of Dublin residential property prices were 39.8% lower than their highest level in 2007. According to Dermot O’Leary, chief economist with Goodbody Stockbrokers, it had been expected that prices outside Dublin would rise at a faster pace because new mortgage rules were having a bigger impact in Dublin. ‘We expect further moderation over the coming months, with the slowdown in price inflation to be particularly felt in the capital,’ he said, adding that house price inflation continued to be supported by ongoing supply shortages. Experts are now predicting that residential property prices are likely to slow towards 5% by the end of the year. Continue reading
Older home owners in UK still planning to move, new research shows variety of reasons
Many home owners in the UK over the age of 55 are not intending to stay put with 37% planning at least one more move, new research has found. Indeed, overall they are planning more than three million future property purchases worth a total of more than £775 billion, the data from insurance firm Prudential shows. However, contrary to some predictions, this does not seem to signal an explosion in property deals fuelled directly by the new pension freedoms. Only 14% say their plans have come about as a result of the pension rule changes and just one in 10 think the changes make them more likely to buy a property in the future. The research results show that investing in property is something that remains popular with the over 55s with 18% of those planning a property deal say they will not be buying a home to live in, but will be buying second homes, buy to let properties, development properties or homes for their relatives. Prudential’s research also reveals the scale of the property deals being considered by the over 55s. The average maximum purchase price for their next property is over £250,000 while 20% say they are willing to spend £350,000 or more. Some 83% who are planning a property deal, say that their planned purchase is likely to be their last. However, not all of the older property dealers will be last time buyers as 11% say they will probably buy again in the future. ‘There was a lot of speculation that the pension freedoms would spark a rush of over 55s investing in buy to let property as a means of generating income in retirement. However our research suggests that this hasn’t yet been the case,’ said Stan Russell, retirement expert at Prudential. ‘In fact the process of withdrawing cash from a pension fund to purchase property and potentially generate an income is complex and could result in a large tax bill. Anyone aged 50 or over with a defined contribution pension is entitled to free and impartial guidance from the Government’s Pension Wise service, and many of those considering accessing their retirement savings under the new freedoms would benefit from a consultation with a financial adviser,’ he explained. The results of Prudential’s research also show that the biggest motivation for over 55s planning a property deal is to downsize with 43% giving this as a reason. ‘Using money raised from a property sale could prove to be a helpful boost to retirement income for some. But it’s no substitute for starting to save as early as possible to prepare for eventual retirement,’ said Russell. There is an almost equal split between those who expect to buy a property that’s more expensive than their current home, and those who plan to buy a cheaper property and bank some cash. Around 29% expect to spend more on their next property while 27% say they’ll spend less. The research shows… Continue reading
New home sales dip down in Australia, latest data shows
Seasonally adjust new home sales in Australia were down marginally by 0.4% in July but the market overall is in strong shape, the latest report from the Housing Industry Association shows. This is because overall new home sales are at historically high levels, according to HIA chief economist Harley Dale. ‘It appears that the cyclical peak for total new home sales occurred in April, but the subsequent downward trend is very mild,’ he said. But he explained that key leading indicators of home building, including HIA new home sales, suggest little prospect for further growth in new home construction in the 2015/2016 financial year. ‘However, following three consecutive years of strong growth which has propped up the domestic economy considerably, both HIA new home sales and ABS building Approvals signal another healthy year for new home construction,’ he added. Indeed, the data shows that detached house sales increased by 0.7% in July this year but the annual peak for detached house sales has passed. Over the three months to July this year detached house sales fell by 2.8% and are 3.4% lower when compared to the three months to July 2014. Multi-unit sales peaked in May this year and fell by 4.2% in July following a decline of 2.9% in June. Over the three months to July this year multi-unit sales increased by 8.3% but it was the strength of the May result that drove the quarterly outcome. A breakdown of the latest data shows that in the month of July 2015 detached house sales increased by 4.2% in New South Wales but fell by 2.3% in Victoria and by 4.9% per cent in Western Australia. Sales were close to flat for the month in Queensland with a marginal fall of 0.6% and South Australia they were down by just 0.2%. Continue reading
