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Halifax: House price optimism bounces

by: Emma Lunn
  • 25/03/2015
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Halifax: House price optimism bounces
House price optimism rebounded in February, according to the Halifax Housing Market Confidence Tracker which surveys how people feel about the housing market.

February saw a rallying of house price optimism among consumers, from an 18-month low of +52 at the start of the year to +60 in February. However the figure is down from December 2014 when it stood at +62.

House price optimism is calculated as the net balance of the percentage of respondents that expect the average UK house price to rise over the next 12 months less those that expect house prices to fall.

The increased optimism comes at a time when inflation has continued to fall and the expectation of an interest rate rise has receded further.

This optimism is reflected in the outlook for both buyers and sellers, with buying sentiment up to its highest level since the Confidence Tracker launched in 2011 at net +35. At the same time, selling sentiment has reached an all-time high and now stands at +27.

However, this still this doesn’t tell the whole story as the underlying picture is a cautious one, with 57% predicting flat or modest house price increases of less than 5% at best over the next 12 months.

And despite inflation falling to 0% in February and speculation that the next interest rate move is as likely to be down as it is up, 43% of consumers believe mortgage interest rates will be higher than they are now in a year’s time.

Craig McKinlay, mortgages director at Halifax, said: “With inflation now at its lowest level since records began and the chances of the next interest rates change reportedly just as likely to be down as up, consumers are feeling more optimistic about the housing market again.

“The traditional slow start to the year for the housing market has already begun to give way to increased activity, but consumers remain relatively cautious. For sustainable long-term growth we need a period of stable growth and a more comprehensive house-building programme.”

 

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