House prices news
Latest House prices news
Stamp duty holiday should be 'judged regionally'
The impact of the stamp duty holiday should be judged separately for its effect on each region in the UK , experts have claimed. Last week, the government announced measures to suspend stamp duty for a year on homes costing £175,000 or less. However, in London this will only affect ten per cent of homes, but in Scotland it could mean cheaper deals on 65 per cent of ...
8th Sep 2008
Government puts 'sticking plaster' on housing problems
The government could be putting a "sticking plaster" on the property market's problems, according to experts. Having revealed plans to axe stamp duty tax on residential homes costing £175,000 or less, chancellor Alistair Darling called the move "one example of how the government can help people". Nevertheless, Brian Berry, director of external ...
3rd Sep 2008
House prices news archive
Welsh housing flourishes despite crunch
House values in Wales are increasing despite drops for most other areas in the UK, new figures suggest. House prices in Bangor, North Wales, have doubled in the past five years, according to Halifax. The average value of homes in Bangor is now £245,885, an increase of 100 per cent since 2003. Many other university towns have experienced property market growth, with ...
2nd Sep 2008
Property market 'levelling out'
House prices in Britain are no longer dropping alarmingly, but a recovery is not at hand either – instead prices are "levelling out", new research suggests. There is now a greater degree of stability apparent in the market, according to the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA). However, there are still fewer first-time buyers entering the market, ...
22nd Aug 2008
Scottish market 'exactly the same' as England
Claims that house prices are continuing to rise in Scotland have been dismissed as "patronising nonsense" by experts. Following comments made by the first minister, Alex Salmond, the head of Scotland's biggest estate agent told the Times that out-of-date figures are being used in order to make it appear homeowners are not suffering in Scotland as they are ...
21st Aug 2008
Northern Ireland avoids worst of property crash
House prices in Northern Ireland are not decreasing as rapidly as elsewhere in the UK, as figures show the country is avoiding the worst of the property slump. Although the majority of estate agents are having to adjust house prices , this is occurring far less than in other British regions, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has suggested. Northern ...
14th Aug 2008
Government urged to clear up 'uncertainty'
Uncertainty surrounding whether or not the government will change stamp duty is contributing to disruption in the UK housing market, experts have indicated. The latest report from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) suggests that stability could return to house prices , but homeowners are still struggling to sell because of "confused" government ...
13th Aug 2008
London and Scotland 'UK's strongest markets'
Homes least affected by the property slump are located in London and Scotland, according to a new report. Compared to other areas in Britain, house prices are far more stable in the English capital and north of the border, Knight Frank suggests. Scottish house prices are proving more durable because of a less "boom and bust" structure to the market, while the ...
12th Aug 2008
Experts divided about property recovery
The speed at which house prices will return to normal is dividing property experts, with some far more optimistic than others. While some predict a quarter of a century to pass before stability to return, others suggest next year could be a turning point. Ed Stansfield, property economist for Capital Economics, thinks that it will be 2036 before homeowners can expect ...
7th Aug 2008
House prices 'could fall by 30 per cent'
Within the next three years, house prices could drop by 30 per cent, according to property experts. Average UK house prices are anticipated to decrease by £50,000 by 2011, from £185,000 to £135,000, current spread betting platform trading is indicating. James Lippett, head of sales at Cantor Spreadfair, believes the downturn is forcing investors to decide on ...
4th Aug 2008