A report yesterday suggested that the UK is fast becoming a property rental economy rather than a property purchase economy, something which has been in place for many decades. There are now great concerns that first-time buyers are effectively being priced out that the UK property market due to an increase in property prices and a lack of liquidity in the mortgage market. So how can first-time buyers climb onto the property ladder?
Despite the fact that the first choice for many in the UK property market is to buy a property for the future, there are now signs that more and more people are looking to rent in the short to medium term. The Chartered Institute of Housing has today issued a report suggesting that those on incomes between £12,000 and £25,000 are stuck in between being eligible for social housing and been able to afford their own property.
A number of property surveys in relation to the UK property market have highlighted the fact that the UK market is moving into an "oversupply" situation. When you also take into account that many buyers are now sitting on the sidelines waiting for prices to fall further, the situation could become worse before it gets better. So why have more people decided to sell their property?
Despite the fact that the Council of Mortgage Lenders last week reduced its forecast of the number of homes to be repossessed in the UK, we may well be missing the point. It was revealed that 9800 homes were repossessed in the first quarter of 2010 and this figure fell to 9400 in the second quarter with an estimate that "just" 39,000 homes would be repossessed this year as opposed to initial forecasts of around 53,000. However, surely 39,000 homes is way too many?
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.
The CML has today revealed that the UK buy to let market has rebounded strongly from post-credit crunch levels although it would appear to be running out of steam. The number of buy-to-let mortgages agreed increased by 13% in the second quarter of 2010 with around 25,000 confirmed. While these figures are welcomed by investors in the buy to let market they are just around 25% of the business levels seen prior to the credit crunch and the worldwide economic downturn.
A number of estate agents and surveyors around the UK are attempting to place the blame for the ongoing downturn in the UK property market on the media sector. However, a number of prominent media property experts also point out that when the market is rising there is no credit given to the media in the UK and it is only when prices began to fall that damaging headlines "are to blame".
A report by the industry body, the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, has today cast a dark shadow on the UK property market the report showing that more members are seeing lower prices compared to those who are seeing an increase. The net balance on the survey was -8 which equates to a fall in UK property prices in the second half of 2010 in the region of 2 to 3%. This would leave house prices in the UK relatively flat for the year compared to 2009.
The UK government has announced a New Homes Bonus scheme which will be offered to all English councils who participate in new house building projects to alleviate a shortage of affordable property in the UK. Despite the fact there are 4.5 million people on the English Council housing list only 120,000 new properties were built last year. So how will this incentive scheme work?
A report by the Halifax has today confirmed that the value of housing stock in the UK has increased by 118% over last 10 years from £1.7 trillion to just over £3.7 trillion. This comes at a time over which the retail price index increased by just 29% showing the immense dependence upon the UK property market for the UK population. The figure actually equates to an increase of around £33,000 per person in the UK over the last 10 years!