Anna comments in press on latest Halifax house price data

Thank you to The Independent, The Mirror, BBC News, Yahoo Finance, AOL and Property Reporter for publishing my comments on the latest Halifax house price data.

According to Halifax, house prices were 7.5% higher than in the same month a year earlier. On the face of it, this feels like positive news amidst much that is negative – economically, politically, and socially – at least for property owners. It’s not as simple as this, and this pace of growth is not forecast to continue at the same level.

Right now, prices are being buoyed up by the temporary SDLT reduction, the release of pent up demand and supply, and the desire to improve surroundings following lockdown.

For example, growth in detached properties was 6%, due to many families understandably seeking more space. Another important factor is that in times of uncertainty, there is a ‘flight to safety’: many people prefer to invest in tangible assets like property.

The truth is, the housing market is not one market. If you’re thinking about buying a property in this fast-changing environment, one of the best things you can do is to detach from the emotional dimension, so that you are able to analyse whether you are getting a good price and ‘value for money’.