Property expert predicts further house price falls

Property expert predicts further house price falls

9:51 AM, 8th November 2022, About 2 years ago

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Data from Halifax this week shows that the UK’s house prices fell at the sharpest pace in almost two years last month as rising mortgage rates and a gloomy economic outlook took their toll.

The figures show that house prices fell 0.4% in October – the third decline in four months. The annual rate of growth fell to 8.3% from 9.8%.

The figures echo numbers from Nationwide, which last week said prices fell 0.9% – the most since the start of the pandemic.

Now Jonathan Rolande, from the National Association of Property Buyers, says that while the price falls are ‘fairly small’ they amount to just over £1,000 off an average home.

‘We are heading in the wrong direction’

He said: “The reduction follows a 0.1% drop in September and shows we are heading in the wrong direction.

“What really concerns me isn’t this drop itself, but what might lie ahead of us.

“I fear much worse is to come and that house prices will fall further and faster next month.”

‘Housing market has been rocked by financial events’

He added: “In recent weeks, the housing market has been rocked by financial events including the fallout from the mini-Budget in September.

“The mini-Budget disaster led to much higher borrowing rates, but those lucky enough to already have a mortgage in place would have had it honoured at the old, lower rate.

“Today’s figures don’t yet show the true impact and for that we need to wait two or three more months. I’m concerned that these figures could prove to be worse still.”

Property is still 8% more expensive

Mr Rolande points out that property is still 8% more expensive than it was a year ago, but this could be quickly eroded by further monthly falls.

He said: “We are now in danger of seeing those people who bought property during the summer with homes worth less than they paid.

“Lack of confidence in the market can quickly spiral and price drops can become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

“I hope that we now have a period of some stability and a measured budget in mid-November that gets the property market back on track.”


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