House Price Rises – A Cautionary Tale

By:Michael Challiner

In general, property prices appear to be rising. Between January and May 2006, the uplift in house prices across the United Kingdom averaged 4.4%. In the event that this trend continues, then the yearly rise will be 13%. This will put the average house price at almost Ł195,000.

The Council of Mortgage Lenders confidently expects 1.2m property sales to be completed this year. This is a rise in the 970,000 previously predicted. They also expect mortgage loans to be Ł10billion more than they had thought, at a total of Ł85billion.

All this sounds very upbeat and encouraging. New loans approval for house purchases in March 2006 was more than 25% higher than for the same period 12 months earlier.

However, first time buyers are finding it especially difficult to get on the first step of the housing ladder and in some areas, particularly the South East of England and London, prices have been fairly static. First timers are needed to set off the sequence of events from starter homes upwards.

In many other parts of the country, including the north of England and Wales, house sales have continued to be buoyant, levelling out the average price of homes. According to the Halifax Building Society the rate of growth is expected to even out across the UK and it is thought that prices will rise to in excess of three times the predicted level during 2006.

Capital Economics, the economics consultancy, have been predicting that property prices will start to drop in the UK market for the past few years and was of the opinion that prices would drop by 5% in 2006; however they appear to have been over cautious according to the above figures are correct. There is some cause for caution though.

The Council of Mortgage Lenders has revised its forecast regarding interest rates and now expects the cost of borrowing to rise, maybe from 4.5% to 4.75%. Their economist, Jim Cunningham, thinks that demand should remain vigorous in the coming months but says that confidence and activity are closely linked with interest movements and predictions. The result of this could be a more modest rise in house sales after the recent highs. He does, however, look forward to a better outlook for 2008.

Mortgage lenders are becoming increasingly more cautious regarding their lending levels and the size of mortgages they will fund. This in turn limits the budget of the potential buyers.

The problem is that interest rates have been exceptionally low in recent years, in fact at their lowest level since 1955 and this has created an exaggerated level of debt. A rise in the mortgage rate may result in more people falling behind with their mortgage payments and an increased likelihood of their homes being repossessed.

Some caution is needed in this market. Purchasers who have taken on large loans on the back of the rise in houses could find some of the above factors worrying. If interest rates rise there could be an adverse effect on house sales and people could find themselves with increasingly expensive mortgages whilst there may be some stagnation in the property market, if not actual falls in prices.

It seems to be a time to exercise some caution. Mortgage debt can creep up and your house could just be slightly less of the asset in once was. Take care.

Digg del.icio.us Blink Stumble Spurl Reddit Netscape Furl

Article keywords: mortgages, house, prices

Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com

Express offer its clients access to home insurance, car insurance and mortgages

Top Real Estate Articles
1). When Daddy Moves to an Apartment By : Kyle Thomas Haley Divorce is hard, there’s no question about it. Not only has your marriage ended but, most likely, your lifestyle is undergoing some drastic changes also. This is especially true if you are forced to leave the place that was home to you and your family. Depending on your particular situation, you may find that moving into an apartment is your only option.
2). Alternative Investments – Which Is the Best for Your Portfolio? By : Stephen Todd If you are looking at alternative investments the one we consider the best has an average gain of 920% over 20 years and has outperformed shares and property with less downside risk.
3). The Pitfalls of Selling Your Home Alone By : Andrew Webber Many homeowners think that selling home alone without the help of a Realtor will help simplify the process and will save them money in the end. The fact of the matter is that selling your home on your own isn't easy work. In fact, you may actually lose a substantial amount of money when you try to sell your home alone because you aren't well spoken in the language and business of real estate.
4). Flip That House Style Real Estate Investing By : David Neese I love those TV rehabbing shows like Flip That House. On the show people buy a house needing to be seriously updated and repaired. Usually the kitchen is heavily upgraded with new cabinets, cutting edge appliances, new countertops and more. The bathrooms are completely redone with new tile, tubs, showers, sinks and more. The living rooms and other areas usually have walls taken out to open up the floor plan and usually carpet is replaced with some type of hardwood flooring.
5). Where Real Estate Investing and Speculation Collide By : Bruce W. Ford Some uninformed folks would describe someone who rehabs distressed property as a "speculator" or even a "property speculator." Don't be fooled! There is a VAST CHASM of difference between rehabbing and property speculation. Let me explain. According to Dictionary.com, the definition of speculation where business is concerned is: "Engagement in risky business transactions on the _chance_ of quick or considerable profit.
6). How To Find A Real Estate Agent By : Steve Gillman It's easy to find a real estate agent. Just put a for sale sign in the yard and wait for the phone to ring. The question is, how do you find a GOOD real estate agent? You can start with newspaper. Pick up the Saturday or Sunday paper - whichever day they have all the homes for sale in your area. You can also collect a few real estate guides to look through.
7). Home Sales Continue to Drop In Southern California By : Andy Goldman Home sales are dropping in Southern California. For the fourth month in a row, home sales have continued top drop, according to data for March.
8). Relocating to Tampa Bay A Great Place to Call Home By : Kael Its no wonder that Florida’s Tampa Bay area has become such a popular choice for relocating adults and families to call home. The west coast of Florida has mile after mile of white, sandy beaches and magnificently, beautiful natural resources. These areas include the city of Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, as well as Palm Harbor, Tarpon Springs and Oldsmar.
9). Real Estate Rentals - Selling For More By : Steve Gillman Selling real estate rentals isn't like selling houses. You can paint a house, and get a little more because it looks nice. Rental properties, especially larger ones, are different, because they're bought by investors, who look at income more than new paint. Raise the income, and you increase value to investors. Time to learn about capitalization rates.
10). New Hampshire Real Estate – Switzerland of America By : Raynor With soaring mountain ranges, New Hampshire is often called the Switzerland of America. Fortunately, New Hampshire real estate prices compare favorably to Switzerland. New Hampshire New Hampshire is a state with beautiful scenery that takes on the full effect of each season of the year. Spring and summer are tailor made for fishing, hiking and water sports along the state coastline.

New Real Estate Articles
1). Real Estate Agent Web Site; Clean, Simple and Effective By : Lanard Perry Great website designs focus on 3 basic values: simplicity, clarity, and speed. A site that is visually appealing, but at the same time downloads quickly and is easy to navigate is optimum.
2). Errors Made by Real Estate Investors By : Kris Koonar Some decisions need to be well thought out and considered. Real estate issues are no exception.
3). Why Real Estate By : Kris Koonar When you look at the lists of the wealthiest people in the world, most of the names there have one thing in common. They are all massive property owners.
4). Real Estate Lead Generators; Business Building Ideas Are All Around You By : Lanard Perry Real Estate Lead Generators abound, and everyday you are presented with opportunities to generate leads and earn commissions.
5). Custom Real Estate Web Design: Key To Increased Income By : Lanard Perry The Internet is a primary tool for effectively online, mainly because it has such a wide reach. Through Custom Real Estate Web Design you can market to millions of people as easily as you can several hundred thousand.
6). Tips for Successful Investing By : Kris Koonar One of the quickest paths to financial freedom and security is through the world of real estate investing. Millionaires and even billionaires have been made on the real estate market
7). Moving In Your New Home By : Jonathon Hardcastle Now that the paperwork belongs to the past and the movers have left leaving you alone to admire your new property, it is time to sit down and list all those things you will have to do before being able to relax on your couch or back yard and admire your new possession.
8). Costa Maya Real Estate Search - Trip Planning Guide By : Christine Harrell After all, the opportunity seems too good to be true with 57 miles of virtually uninhabited Caribbean coastline, property prices as low as $65,000 per lot, and a government funded project to boost tourism and property value.
9). Real Estate Marketing Reports; Instant Web Site Content By : Lanard Perry It can take months, and in some instances years to personally write enough web site copy to have an effective, lead generating web site. On the other hand, you can purchase volume content for pennies on the dollar and upload it to your web site in minutes. So, why settle for adding a page 1-2 times a week when you can add hundreds of pages whenever you want to.
10). Investing In Property In Mexico Means An Investment In Your Health By : Christine Harrell Many Americans who have purchased property in Mexico have discovered even greater wealth than that of their fast rising property values.