Mortgage News
NAEA: Market bounces back in July
July has proved one of the strongest months of the year so far for the housing market as demand rose, according to the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA).
In contrast to the latest RICS housing report, NAEA figures show that demand for property rose in July alongside with increased supply and more sales.
The average agent had 292 registered house hunters, up from 279 in June, while supply rose to an average of 68 properties on agents’ books compared to 59 in June.
NAEA said that the number of sales to first-time buyer also increased from 21% to 26%
Michael Jones, president of the NAEA, said the figures demonstrated that the fragile recovery that has defined the market in 2010 was continuing.
However, he added: “We should not get carried away. What we are seeing is a slow, steady and patently fragile recovery. One thing which is interesting is that consumer confidence in the market appears to be high, despite apparent uncertainty elsewhere about the future of the economy.”
£2.5m paid to help broker clients benefit from greener homes
Sponsored by Halifax Intermediaries
Jones went on that lenders are still being too restrictive in their criteria and the market needed more lending.