Tag Archives: property
More people in UK want to buy a home but ownership levels are falling
The appetite amongst people in the UK to own their home has risen steadily over the past four years but ownership levels have also been falling, new research shows. Some 73% of non-home owners now say they would like to own their home compared to 69% last year, 68% in 2014 and 65% in 2013, according to the annual survey from the consumers group the HomeOwners Alliance. But despite more people wanting to own the roof over their heads, home ownership levels have been declining for the past decade after peaking in 2002 at 69.7% and the report says this is because the high demand for homes is pushing house prices to unaffordable levels. It explains that the mismatch between house prices and wages is worsening, average house prices have risen five times more than wages in the last five years and this is exacerbated by an inadequate supply of new homes. It also points out that despite a series of measures announced by the government aimed at supporting first time buyers, such as the Starter Homes Initiative, extension of the Help to Buy loan scheme and introduction of a new Help to Buy ISA there are still difficulties in first time buyers finding affordable homes. One issues is that in dealing with the housing crisis, much of the focus has been on helping first time buyers, but there is growing recognition that solutions need to go further, it suggests, adding that with availability of homes for sale at a record low, last time buyers in under occupied homes have become a focus for freeing up housing stock for younger families. ‘Despite a blizzard of government initiatives aimed at helping homeowners, the housing crisis is deepening across the country, with ever more non-homeowners wanting their own home, and ever greater concern about the lack of housing,’ said Paula Higgins, chief executive of the HomeOwners Alliance. ‘Many government policies have boosted demand for homes, but what this survey shows is that the real problem is the desperate shortage of houses. Until the government tackles the fundamental issue that we just don’t have enough good quality homes, the housing crisis will continue to deepen and a generation will continue to have their dreams of home ownership crushed,’ she added. It explains that so-called last time buyers, could help ease the housing crisis in the UK freeing up under occupied properties. There are an estimated 11.4 million home owners age 55 and over and 10% of them have considered a move in the past two years but did not. Some 23% of home owners aged 55 or over who considered moving say lack of suitable housing was the main reason they did not do so, this equates to more than 500,000 home owners. Stress and upheaval of moving is also more likely to be a barrier for those moving later in life with 30% saying so compared to 21% of home owners… Continue reading
Would be home owners in UK save for over four years for home deposit
Aspiring home owners in the UK believe they will need to save for more than four years in order to afford a deposit for their first home, new research has found. While most will safe for four years and four months some 27% believe that they will never be in a position to buy their own property, according to the report from insurance firm Aviva. Official figures show that the typical first time buyer home in Britain now costs £180,677. In order to save a 10% deposit, aspiring home owners starting from scratch would need to save £347 a month to build this deposit in four years and four months, assuming no interest growth. Despite property ownership becoming more difficult as UK house prices rise, under 45s believe home ownership will only become more important in the next 20 years, the report found. However, a clear distinction emerges between different age groups, with 73% of 16 to 24 year old and 60% of 25 to 34 year olds saying home ownership will grow in importance, compared to just 40% of over 55s. As younger age groups are the next generation of potential homeowners, it is clear that the desire to be a homeowner will continue to be very significant. Younger age groups are prepared to wait to get on the property ladder. Some 81% say that home ownership is perceived as a more important milestone in the UK than other parts of the world. On a personal level, 79% of people in the UK agree becoming a home owner is important to them or was, if they already are home owners. However, younger generations appear to accept that the path to home ownership might require some patience. Some 53% of over 55s say they want or wanted to become a homeowner as quickly as possible compared to 43% of 25 to 34 year olds, a key first time buyer age group. While 24% of over 55s say they don’t or didn’t mind waiting a while to become a home owner, this rises to 40% for 25 to 34 year olds. Despite the importance of getting on the property ladder, many people are failing to protect their possessions as 19% or 10 million UK adults do not have contents insurance if they own a home and 33% of those renting. The research also found that 40% of people don’t know the value of their contents insurance, leaving them at risk of being inadequately covered. In addition, 62% do not know how much their possessions and valuables are worth, potentially resulting in being under or over insured. ‘The UK’s households are changing, not just as the population grows, but as society evolves to include more family types. However, one thing remains constant and that is our desire to get on the property ladder. The next generation of home owners are certain this will… Continue reading
Annual price growth slowing in key cities in UK, index data shows
The annual rate of house growth in key cities in the UK has started to slow after 12 successive months of rising prices, according to the latest index figures to be published. But there is some regional variation and house prices in large regional cities outside southern England continue to grow while those in London have seen a market slowdown, the Hometrack cities index shows. Outside the south house price growth continues to hold steady at 7% to 8% per annum with no sign of an imminent slowdown. Aberdeen is also registering a slower rate of price falls compared to recent months with a decline of 8% compared to 10% the previous month. Overall city house prices increased by 9.5% year on year in July, down from 9.9% in June with Bristol in the south west seeing the strongest growth at 14% followed by London at 11.7%. While quarter on quarter the highest growth was in lower value, higher yielding cities where prices are rising off a lower base such as Glasgow, up 5.2%, Liverpool up 4.4% and Manchester and Nottingham both up 3.4%. Even although it has the second largest annual price growth, London has registered a marked slowdown in house price growth over the last three months. Average growth in the last quarter was 2.1%, the lowest rate for 17 months. The index report suggests this is due to weaker investor demand, affordability pressures and Brexit uncertainty impact demand at the same time as supply has risen. It points out that prices are still well up year on year but the signs are growth will slow further over the coming months. Cambridge saw prices fall by 1% over the last quarter and the report says that prices in the city are more sensitive to weaker demand although the annual rate of growth is still running at 7.1%. The report says that in the absence of adverse economic trends impacting employment and mortgage rates, the near term outlook is for a continued slowdown in London and stable growth rates in regional cities as households’ price record low mortgage rates into city house price where affordability remains attractive. ‘We continue to believe that turnover will register the brunt of the slowdown in London. In the face of lower sales volumes agents will look to re-price stock in line with what buyers are prepared, and can afford, to pay,’ the report explains. ‘Past experience shows that this process can run for as long as six months and relies, in part, in how quickly sellers are willing to adjust to what buyers are prepared to pay,’ it concludes. Continue reading
