Despite election, UK housing market activity remains strong

Housing market activity in the UK was stronger across the board last month than at the same point last year, regardless of the general election, according to the latest research from valuers.

There were 13% more property valuations conducted in April than a year ago, despite last month’s total dipping by 32% compared to March 2015, the data from Connells Survey and Valuation shows.

According to John Bagshaw, the firm’s corporate services director, all indicators from first time buyers right through to remortgagers are up on compared to a year ago and he said this demonstrates the broad momentum in the property market, which he expects to continue through into the new Parliament.   However, he pointed out that a less than clear election result could affect sentiment. ‘The latest monthly dip from March is generally a seasonal effect at this time of year so if this monthly slowdown continues further we’ll know that something has changed more fundamentally. Yet so far, there is no sign of a serious housing market slowdown,’ he said.

The data also shows that in April remortgaging outperformed the overall housing market, posting a 25% growth on the same month last year, overcoming a 34% seasonal dip from March.   Bagshaw believes that remortgaging is leading all other valuations activity, on the back of record low mortgage rates which are likely to stay low for some time. ‘Inflation is at zero and there’s little sign that the Bank of England will need to raise the base rate imminently. In the meantime mortgage rates have plummeted to the lowest level in over four years. Thus, many households may be capitalising on this period by refinancing to a fixed mortgage,’ he explained.   The buy to let market, while experiencing the sharpest month on month decline compared to other sections of the market, contracting by 36% in April, also saw the largest percentage growth from the same time last year, up 29% on April 2014.

 
source – Propertywire