Blog
Demand levels and sales activity remain buoyant in the UK housing market. Rightmove report agreed sales were up 50% in October, with properties selling (sold SSTC), in just 49 days, 15 days faster than a year ago.
Buyer demand across England was 49% higher year-on-year during the first six days of Lockdown 2.
The market is currently strongest in the higher price brackets. Year-on-year has been a 106% uplift in sales priced £400,000–£500,000 compared to just 16% for those priced £100,000–£200,000
Activity levels are also higher in the regions where average property prices are the highest, buyers set to make bigger stamp duty savings in these locations.
Source: Dataloft, Rightmove (October 2020 v October 2019)
With stats showing strong house price growth we are advising our clients that the market is positive and that if they are considering selling now there are good reasons to proceed despite the issues the country is facing due to the pandemic.
An estimated 98,010 transaction completed in September marking a return to pre-covid levels. With a surge in buyer demand and newly agreed sales this summer, we expect to see an increase in transactions over the next few months.
Newly agreed sales in the three months to September were 53% higher than the same time last year. On average it takes 123 days from agreed sale to exchange, therefore current transactions will only represent a small proportion of the surge in newly agreed sales.
Increased demand has put pressure on solicitors, mortgage lenders and surveyors and therefore delays in exchange are inevitable, likely to be reflected in transaction figures.
With just over 22 weeks of the stamp duty holiday left, buyers should get a move on if they want to take advantage of stamp duty savings of up to £15,000.
If you have been considering selling and would like to discuss things further please feel free to contact us for an initial conversation:
Source: HMRC, TwentyCi, Conveyancing Association
People have spent an increased amount of time at home this year encouraging home improvements. Builders have seen a 47% increase in their workload this summer and online planning applications have increased by 20%.
On average, UK homeowners spend £48 billion a year doing up their homes. With a surge in people moving homes, online planning applications and builder demand, the 2020 spend may be higher.
According to NAEA the top 10 home improvements to increase the value of your home are; redecorating, kitchen makeover, adding or updating bathrooms, garden appeal, double glazing, open plan space, new doors, loft conversions, creating a driveway and avoiding over personalisation.
The top five common projects this year have been, extensions (74%), porches (9%), loft conversions (7%), conservatories (7%) and out buildings (3%). We suspect the need for a home office is behind many of these applications.
If you have recently undertaken home improvements and would like to know the value it has added to your property or if you are considering embarking on improvements but would like our expert advice about what will be most effective please click below to book a free valuation:
Source: Dataloft, Planning Portal, NAEA
Priorities have changed for over a quarter of tenants following the pandemic, according to The Property Academy Tenant Survey 2020.
The Survey, based on 14,000 tenants, found that over two thirds of tenants said affordability (68%) and a garden (67%) had become more important than they were pre-lockdown.
With the government encouraging working from home, it is no surprise that 63% of tenants said broadband speed was more important and 61% said space to work from home was more important.
Landlords should consider renters priorities, for example; assisting access to fast broadband, providing office furniture, and assessing rental values could help keep tenants happy.
Source: Dataloft, Property Academy
With just under 26 weeks of the stamp duty holiday left, even with homes selling 31% faster than before lockdown, sellers only have 10 weeks to list their properties if they want to complete in time.
According to The Advisory, the average time to sell a property, from first day of marketing to completion, is on average 18 weeks and in a hot market, like today, it can take on average 16 weeks.
Buyer demand in August was 39% above the same time last year and mortgage approvals saw a 29% annual increase, indicating that there are plenty of buyers out there.
Although 31st March 2021 seems a long way away, vendors need to consider the time scales of selling homes and act now.
Mortgage approvals in August saw a 29% annual increase. The lockdown backlog is clearing and increased buyer demand, generated by the stamp duty holiday and lifestyle changes, has boosted figures.
190,902 mortgages have been approved in the last 3 months, -4% below the same time last year. The number of approvals for remortgages saw an annual decline of -33% in August, and a -27% decline in the last 3 months, compared to the same time last year.
The decline in remortgages is likely to be caused by the 53% increase in buyer demand from existing homeowners (Zoopla). Many homeowners will opt to apply for new mortgages, keen to secure them on their current economic situation and make the most of the stamp duty holiday.
If mortgage approvals continue to climb we will be in new territory. Savills forecast c.1.1 million transactions in 2020, with only 594,760 sales estimated to have completed so far, a lot more are to come.
Source: Dataloft, Bank of England
The time to sell a home has fallen by more than a quarter in the UK. No surprise considering buyer demand, since the start of the year, is +34% higher than over the same period in 2019.
The number of days between first marketing a home to receiving an offer is on average, since lockdown was lifted, 27 days. This is -31% lower than the same time period in 2019.
Time to sell varies by property type, at present, 3-bed houses sell the fastest, 24 days. 1-bed flats take the longest to sell, 34 days.
Time to sell has decreased as a result of available supply falling short of buyer demand. 4 and 5 bed houses are now selling 16 days faster, the biggest decrease seen.