House prices fell 1.8% in 2023 but were unchanged in December, Nationwide says

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UK home costs ended 2023 simply 1.8% cheaper than that they had been a yr earlier regardless of huge hikes in mortgage charges, with costs even rising in Scotland and Northern Eire, an index has advised.

Nationwide stated the typical home worth was unchanged throughout December in comparison with the month earlier than. It implies that common costs finish the yr 4.5% under the all-time peak in the summertime of 2022.

The typical worth of a house was £257,443 in December, Nationwide stated.

Specialists stated that extra positivity has began to enter the housing market in the previous couple of months.

“Housing market exercise was weak all through 2023,” stated Nationwide’s chief economist, Robert Gardner.

“The entire variety of transactions has been working at (about) 10% under pre-pandemic ranges over the previous six months, with these involving a mortgage down much more (about 20%), reflecting the impression of upper borrowing prices.

“On the flip aspect, the quantity of money transactions has continued to run above pre-Covid ranges.”

The price of borrowing has elevated dramatically over the past two years, with the Financial institution of England’s base rate of interest rising from 0.1% in December 2021 to five.25% at present.

Nationwide stated that home costs rose 4.5% in Northern Eire in 2023, and in Scotland they have been up 0.5%.

In England costs have been down 2.9% in comparison with a yr in the past, and in Wales they dropped 1.9%.

East Anglia was the place the place costs fell probably the most quickly, down 5.2% year-on-year. Costs typically fell sooner within the south of England than within the north.

Mr Gardner stated: “A fast rebound in exercise or home costs in 2024 seems unlikely.

“Whereas cost-of-living pressures are easing, with the speed of inflation now working under the speed of common wage development, shopper confidence stays weak and surveyors proceed to report subdued ranges of recent purchaser inquiries.

“Furthermore, whereas markets are projecting that the subsequent Financial institution Price transfer shall be down, there are nonetheless upward dangers to rates of interest. Inflation is declining, however measures of home worth pressures stay far too excessive.”