25/01/2010 London – A consumer survey conducted by property website Rightmove indicates that consumers are in positive mood about the UK housing market for 2010. The majority of respondents felt that average house prices in the UK would increase this year.
Rightmove surveyed 32,771 people from Jan. 4 to Jan. 18 and provide some interesting reading for estate agents and other property professionals who are still witnessing a shortage of supply.
Over 53% of respondents forecast that average house prices will increase over the year; this is stark contrast to a similar survey a year ago where just 10 percent of Britons expected prices to rise.
Miles Shipside, commercial director of Rightmove, said in the statement.
“Given the looming election and the talk of pending austerity packages ahead, this consumer survey highlights a surprisingly positive property price outlook,” Consumers have the “impression that we are over the worst of the recent price falls and that there is likely to be upward pressure on prices.” Employment seems to be holding up, and forced sales have been below forecasts,” Shipside said. “People hear these positive stories in the news and also directly feel the benefit of base rates being at record lows.”
Despite the recent recession the worst performing decade for house prices was the 1990s when prices fell by 22% in real terms. Research by Halifax has found that the average UK house price has increased from £2,507 in 1959 to stand at £162,085 in 2009, a rise of 273%, after allowing for the effects of inflation. Find Online estate agents
