TSI
Prime central London transactions slowing but prices remain stable
The introduction of a new stamp duty propertytax structure in December, the forthcoming general election and the spectre of a mansion tax have created a level of uncertainty within the UK’s prime property market, it is claimed. New research from prime central London agency W.A.Ellis, a JLL company, shows a sharp reduction in prime central London transaction levels. The firm compared sales transactions within Knightsbridge, Chelsea, Belgravia and Kensington post code areas and found that transactions in January 2015 fell by 34% compared to a year ago. This reduction is most sharply felt within the house sector, with only nine sales occurring in January 2015, contrasting with 25 in January 2014, a reduction of 64% and the firm has seen a large number of houses being withdrawn from the market as discretionary sellers adopt a ‘wait and see’ more cautionary approach until after the election. The research also shows that while the transaction levels have dropped year on year, the average rate per foot of all the houses sold across the postcodes has remained stable at around £1,800 per foot. ‘Comparing year on year transactions within the same month only provides a snapshot, but the overriding sentiment at the upper end of the market is undoubtedly one of caution until the political path becomes clearer,’ said Richard Barber, director at W.A.Ellis. ‘At the lower end, however, we predict an increase in activity from the over 55s, releasing deposit monies from pensions to fund either buy to lets or investments for their children and we expect this to have a strong upward effect on the market between £200,000 and £1 million,’ he explained. He also explained that whilst the Mortgage Market Review (MMR) has had a curbing effect on the amounts that first time buyers can borrow, the so called bank of Mum and Dad is likely to subsidise the shortfall in mortgage funds, particularly as the market in equities and gilts is looking unpredictable. The firm’s research also shows that the prime central London lettings market saw a flourish of activity in the first week of January, followed by a steady stream of enquiries, viewings, and subsequent new tenancies. The firm forecasts that central London rents will rise 3% over the course of 2015. ‘January saw activity across the entire breadth of the market, with well-presented one and two bedroom properties letting with relative ease. Substantial houses gained much deserved attention, too, from families who have, no doubt, been hibernating over the Christmas period,’ said Lucy Morton, director and head of agency. She pointed out that demand for new build property, particularly in W2's prized Merchant Square development, is most definitely on the up, and the firm is seeing tenants’ expectations on quality of finish and furnishing increase considerably. ‘Stock levels remain high as many would be vendors with pre-election nerves opt to list their properties on the rental… Continue reading
Over 55s boost property equity release in UK to record high
The total value of equity release lending in the UK reached almost £1.38 billion in 2014, the highest since records began in 1992, according to the latest industry figures. The 2014 total was up 29% from 2013, bringing the equity release market back above pre-recession levels, the data from the Equity Release Council also shows. It points out that home owners aged 55 and over are increasingly use their housing wealth to boost their finances and help with living costs in later life. On a quarterly basis the value of equity release lending totalled £365.7 million in the final quarter of 2014, an increase of 18% year on year and it reached £741 million for the second half of the year. There was also a six year high in new customer numbers with more than 5,700 over 55s releasing equity from their homes in the last three months of 2014 and there were 5,712 new customers in the final quarter of the year, the largest amount in a single quarter since the fourth quarter of 2008. It pushed the total number of new equity release customers in 2014 to 21,336, a 13% increase from 2013 and the largest yearly figure since 2008. Customer numbers have now grown for four consecutive years since the recession. The average value of equity release lending also hit a new milestone in 2014, reaching £64,787, up 14% from the previous year and exceeds the previous record of £60,504 in 1998 by 7%. Some 66% of new equity release customers chose drawdown products in 2014, in contrast to just 25% of customers in 2006. Lump sum products now account for 34% of new plans while home reversion account for less than 1%. However, drawdown products account for a smaller share of the market by value at 60% or £825 million during 2014, as these products allow retirees to take smaller sums as and when they need them, often allowing more of their housing wealth to be preserved. ‘These lending figures show that 2014 was truly a record breaking year for the industry. Equity release is proving to be a crucial tool for financial planning in retirement, and is allowing retirees to improve their standard of living and give them more flexibility to support themselves or family members,’ said Nigel Waterson, chairman of the Equity Release Council. ‘Many retirees have more wealth tied up in property than anywhere else, so it is only logical that this forms part of their plan to enjoy a comfortable retirement. The new pension freedoms won't change the fact that many people do not have enough savings for later life. There is a danger that people's pension pots will be here today, gone tomorrow, but housing wealth is the one constant that many in this generation can rely on for support,’ he explained. ‘Increasing awareness of the available products and their benefits means that equity release will continue to thrive in 2015… Continue reading
Sydney and Melbourne continue to see strong home price growth at start of year
The Australian housing market has started the year on a strong footing with strong gains recorded across Sydney and Melbourne, pushing capital city dwelling values 1.3% higher. But the latest home value index from Core Logic RP Data shows that a two tier housing market persisted over the first month of 2015 as performance varied substantially between capital cities. The largest cities, which have more influence over the combined capital city index due to the high number of dwellings, continued to push the aggregate index higher. Melbourne values were up 2.7% compared with December and Sydney values increased by 1.4%. Hobart also recorded a strong monthly result with values up 1.6%. Three capital cities recorded a decline in values over the month, with Darwin down 1.3%, Adelaide down 1.2% and Perth values down 0.6%. The quarterly data shows a clearer picture for housing market conditions, with the combined capitals index recording a 1.9% over the three months ending January 2015. While Sydney continued to be the standout for capital gains, the most significant increase in values over the past three months was recorded in Hobart with a rise of 4.4%, eclipsing the 2.4% capital gain in Sydney, which was the second highest quarterly reading across the capitals. According to the firm’s head of research, Tim Lawless, having Hobart produce the strongest results over the past quarter is certainly a unique occurrence. ‘Generally, Hobart has recorded the lowest rate of capital gain since the onset of the global financial crisis, however housing market conditions have been improving,’ he said. ‘Local economic conditions have been improving and Hobart homes are the most affordable of any capital city. Additionally the market is benefitting from the return of lifestyle buyers. After Darwin, the southernmost capital is also showing the second highest gross rental yields of any other capital city,’ he added. Despite Hobart’s strong quarterly capital gain, Sydney still holds as the city with the highest rate of capital gain over the past 12 months where property values are currently 13% higher. The annual gain in property prices across the combined capitals index was 8% at the end of January, ranging from a 13% gain in Sydney to a 0.3% reduction in Canberra. Sydney has also shown the highest aggregated capital growth of any capital city in the years since the global downturn. Lawless pointed out that since the beginning of 2009, Sydney has been a stand out housing market. From January 2009 through to January 2015 Sydney home values have increased by 57%. The second highest rate of growth over the same period has been in Melbourne where values are 50% higher. There is a significant gap between the next best performers over the same six year period. Darwin has seen less than half the level of growth at 24%, followed by Canberra at 18% and Perth at 17%. At the other end of the spectrum is Hobart where homes values are unmoved over the… Continue reading
