The Nationwide says house prices have edged up 0.1 per cent in November, reducing the annual pace of price growth to 3.7 per cent.
It says the average price of a home in the UK is now £196,305.
“The annual rate of house price growth has fluctuated in a fairly narrow range between three and four per cent over the past six months, which is broadly consistent with earnings growth over the longer term. While this bodes well for a sustainable increase in housing market activity in the period ahead, much will depend on whether building activity can keep pace with increasing demand” says Robert Gardner, Nationwide’s chief economist.
“Surveyors have continued to report a dearth of properties on the market in recent months, with the number of available homes reportedly at the lowest level since the late 1970s. Therefore it’s positive that policymakers are focusing on the need to increase home building, with the Chancellor announcing a range of measures aimed at boosting housing supply in his Autumn Statement” says Gardner.
“The current rate of construction activity is well below the projected rate of household formation. Only 135,000 new homes were built in England in the 12 months to September 2015, well below the circa 220,000 new households that are projected to form each year over the next decade.”
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As the year ends daylight hours drop = less viewings = less offers = less sales.
Economics yes play a large part. But so does the time of year that were in
Indeed, Trevor. Activity tends to slow down as we motor towards Christmas. Buyers put off buying until the new year, sellers think twice about putting their house on the market until after the festive period.
I do hope that the Chancellor's efforts will lead to more houses being built on an annual basis than what is currently being built; this crisis will only get worse and put increased pressure on the rental sector as well.
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