08/04/2021
As we enter spring, the average UK house price is £232,134, up 6% on March
2020. Transactions are 49% higher than last year, reflecting a surge in sales agreed in summer and the rush to beat the SDLT holiday.
House price growth in March slowed (-0.2%), indicating a softening of demand
ahead of the original SDLT holiday deadline. Monthly mortgage approvals also
slowed in February (-11%).
Demand spiked after the announcement of a SDLT holiday extension in England,
Wales and Northern Ireland. With demand up 13% and flow of new supply down
-13%, we expect upward pressure on house prices.
We are likely to see an increase in new listings, as sellers become more comfortable with viewings, as restrictions ease.
Source: Dataloft,
Nationwide, HMRC, Bank of England, Zoopla