Confusing signals from the UK property market
Despite the fact that recent information released regarding the UK property sector would seem to indicate a downturn in business and property prices, the Council of Mortgage Lenders in the UK has confirmed a reduction in repossessions in the second quarter of 2010. A total of 9400 properties were repossessed in the three months to June 2010 which is down 400 from the previous quarter and down 2400 compared to same period last year.
As a consequence the Council of Mortgage Lenders has revised its forecast for repossessions for the full year to 39,000 against an initial forecast last year of 53,000. This also compares favourably to the total 47,700 properties which were repossessed during the whole of 2009. Again this would appear to indicate that fewer people are falling behind with their mortgage payments which would in itself indicate an improvement, or at least stability, in the UK economy.
However, this comes at a time when the public sector budget is being slashed, the economic revival appears to be flagging and UK property prices have started to downturn. Whether or not the new forecast of 39,000 repossessions in 2010 is revised, if the economy does falter in the second half of 2010, remains to be seen.
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