18/10/2005

House prices predicted to rise

A rise in house prices for the first time in 18 months has been predicted in a poll of chartered surveyors.

An increase in demand, combined with the possibility of further interest rate cuts, have led to predictions that the house prices could see a ‘marginal rise’ by the end of the year, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors reported.

The number of chartered surveyors in England, Scotland and Wales reporting price falls for September dropped to 21%, from 25% in August.

Although the RICS described buyer interest as “modest”, it reported that new buyer enquires in September increased for the fourth month running.

Buyers also have more choice and room to negotiate on prices, because of the high level of unsold property on the market, the RICS said.

However, house prices remained varied across the regions. London’s house prices remained “static”, the RICS found, after dropping since the middle of 2004. Price falls, however, have slowed in other areas of the country, particularly in East Anglia and the North, while prices in Scotland have continued to rise.

The pace of price falls increased slightly in the South East and Wales, while prices in the North West dropped again, following two months of stability.

RICS housing spokesperson, Ian Perry, said: “While sellers asking for unrealistic prices are still struggling to find potential buyers, they are beginning to feel more confident as fears of a sharp fall in house prices have largely dissipated.

“The amount of new property coming onto the market fell in September for the first time in one-and-a-half years.

“The upturn in demand and improved outlook on interest rates has led surveyors to predict house price rises for the first time since early 2004, though these are expected to be small.

“RICS expects the recovery in activity to be sustained due to continued expansion in employment, which bodes well for a stable housing market.”

(KMcA/GB)




Related Northern Ireland Business News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

07 March 2002
Halifax report continuing rise in house prices
House prices in the UK have risen by almost 17 per cent according to the latest survey figures released by the Halifax. The report, published on Thursday 7 March, has shown that in February, property prices rose by more than one-sixth on the same time a year earlier – representing the fastest annual rate of growth in 12 years.
07 December 2005
'Strong rise’ in UK consumer confidence
Consumer confidence is on the rise in the UK ahead of Christmas, the Nationwide building society has reported. The Nationwide reported that its Consumer Confidence Index had risen by 9 points in November to 101 – the largest monthly change recorded.
30 May 2002
Nationwide reveal further rise in UK house prices
The latest survey from the Nationwide Building Society has revealed that British house prices rose in May to their highest annual rate in 13 years. Overall, house prices rose by 2.1% during the month, taking their annual growth rate to 17.9% - the highest since the boom of the late 1980s.
20 February 2002
NI house prices still rising
A report by the University of Ulster has revealed that house prices in Northern Ireland are still rising, but the recent boom in the property market has slowed down.
27 September 2011
Irish Property Prices 'Down 1.6%'
Ireland's residential property prices have fallen by 1.6% in August, so say figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO). The CSO's monthly Residential Property Price Index revealed that overall house prices have fallen by 13.9% in the year to August. This compares with an annual rate of decline of 12.5% in July and a decline of 10.