UK house prices have surged over the last 12 months, according to Zoopla, but the cost of properties in some areas has gone up more than others.
The property website’s latest House Price Index (HPI) reveals that prices grew by 1.5% in the 12 months to October 2024.
The average UK house price stood at £267,200, having increased by £3,900 from £263,300.
That’s up from -1.2% over the same 12-month period the year before.
Zoopla’s HPI reveals all regions and countries in the UK recorded positive year-on-year growth, with the biggest increases in Northern Ireland, where prices rose by 6.3%.
The North West region of England also saw a 3.9% year-on-year uptick.
House prices rose the least in the 12 months to October in the south of England, with the South East recording just 0.3% growth.
Meanwhile, the South West saw a 0.4% year-on-year rise and London a 1.1% increase.
Richard Donnell, executive director at Zoopla, said wage increases and lower mortgage rates had, in part, led to the house price rises.
It comes as separate data from from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) shows household disposable incomes increased by 15% between April and June, 2022, and the same three month window in 2024.
Over the same two-year period, house prices grew by just 1.5%, meaning households had more cash to spend on properties.
“Higher income growth and lower mortgage rates have helped reset housing affordability faster than many expected over 2024,” Richard said.
“This has supported an increase in the number of sales and house prices over the year which we expect to continue over 2025.”
The most recent data from Zoopla comes after property prices fell in 2023.
Nationwide‘s HPI said house prices at the end of the year were down 1.8% compared with December 2022, leaving them almost 4.5% below the all-time high recorded at the end of summer 2022.
Robert Gardner, the building society’s chief economist, said the downward trend was caused by higher mortgage rates scaring off potential buyers.
Zoopla is predicting house prices will increase by 2.5% over 2025 and by 7.5% over the next three years.
Properties in the Midlands, Northern England, Scotland and Wales will likely grow more than the UK average.
It is forecasting home prices in the south of England will lag behind and grow the least.
The property website also anticipates the number of house price sales will rise next year.
There are currently predicted to be 1.1million property sales in 2024, Zoopla said – 10% higher than 2023 – with sales expected to rise by 5% to 1.15million.
It expects first-time buyers to be the largest buying group which comes as the stamp duty holiday ends on March 31, 2025.
Toby Leek, president at Propertymark, said: “The market is set to see a continued spike in homes for sale and serious buyers coming to the fore despite winter months historically being a quieter time due, in part, to many people across England and Northern Ireland wanting to complete before the rises to Stamp Duty commence from April 2025.”
GETTING on the property ladder can feel like a daunting task but there are schemes out there to help first-time buyers have their own home.
Help to Buy Isa – It’s a tax-free savings account where for every £200 you save, the Government will add an extra £50. But there’s a maximum limit of £3,000 which is paid to your solicitor when you move. These accounts have now closed to new applicants but those who already hold one have until November 2029 to use it.
Help to Buy equity loan – The Government will lend you up to 20% of the home’s value – or 40% in London – after you’ve put down a 5% deposit. The loan is on top of a normal mortgage but it can only be used to buy a new build property.
Lifetime Isa – This is another Government scheme that gives anyone aged 18 to 39 the chance to save tax-free and get a bonus of up to £32,000 towards their first home. You can save up to £4,000 a year and the Government will add 25% on top.
Shared ownership – Co-owning with a housing association means you can buy a part of the property and pay rent on the remaining amount. You can buy anything from 25% to 75% of the property but you’re restricted to specific ones.
Mortgage guarantee scheme – The scheme opens to new 95% mortgages from April 19 2021. Applicants can buy their first home with a 5% deposit, it’s eligible for homes up to £600,000.
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