At the dawn of 2024, the UK’s housing market witnessed a remarkable surge, with property sales and demand scaling new heights. This upswing was primarily attributed to the resurgence of pent-up demand and a notable dip in mortgage rates, which fell below the 5% mark.

How Lower Mortgage Rates are Revitalizing the UK Housing Market?

Property specialist Zoopla reported a 13% increase in new sales agreements during the initial three weeks of January, compared to the previous year, when elevated mortgage rates dampened market dynamics. This resurgence in sales coincided with a 12% hike in demand, marked by prospective buyers actively reaching out to agents, expressing interest, and scheduling visits for properties showcased on Zoopla. Interestingly, despite this uptick in activity, December saw an average 0.8% dip in house prices nationwide, with East England experiencing a sharper decline of 2.5%.

What the Regional Data Reveals About UK’s Housing Trends?

In the backdrop of these fluctuations, London’s housing market portrayed a nuanced picture. The average house price in the capital witnessed a 1.1% decrease, positioning the average property at £536,800. Yet, the city experienced a 21% surge in new buyer demand, marking the most favorable housing affordability since 2016. Despite the capital’s prices soaring by 13% since 2016, this paled compared to the national increase of 34%. Notably, Belfast led the charts with a 4% rise in house prices, closely followed by Glasgow and Edinburgh.

How Market Dynamics and Predictions Shape the Future of UK’s Housing Sector?

Richard Donnell from Zoopla expressed optimism about the year’s outset, emphasizing decreasing mortgage rates in revitalizing buyer demand and sales, especially after a subdued latter half of 2023. He anticipated this momentum to bolster sales volumes but maintained that the market still heavily favored buyers. On a similar note, Tom Ashwood of Tom Ashwood Real Estate projected potential spikes in house price inflation, particularly in the vibrant selling seasons spanning Spring to Summer.

Conversely, the data shed light on the ongoing trend of sellers conceding to price reductions exceeding 10% of the initial asking price, a trend deeply rooted in the market’s dynamics since 2023. As for the broader economic landscape, the Bank of England’s recent interest rate hike to a 15-year peak of 5.25%.

The anticipated rate reductions later in the year add layers of complexity to the market’s future trajectory. In this intricate interplay of market forces, lower mortgage rates have undeniably injected vigor into the UK’s housing sector, setting a dynamic stage for the months ahead.

Source: https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/mortgage-rates-uk-house-sales-060014182.html