UK house prices up 5.4% say Halifax

House prices are 5.4% higher than last summer as property market activity intensifies, figures from the Halifax showed today.

The lender said prices rose 0.4% in August, the seventh consecutive monthly increase, resulting in an average figure of £170,231.

Prices in the three months to August were 5.4% higher than in the same three months a year earlier, better than July’s 4.6% increase and the highest annual rate since June 2010. The annual rate has picked up from 1.1% in March.

Halifax housing economist Martin Ellis said economic improvement and Government schemes have helped boosted demand, although activity is still being held back by the squeeze on household budgets.

“Overall, house prices are expected to rise gradually over the remainder of the year,” he said.

Halifax’s report follows similar findings from building society Nationwide last week that the housing market revival is gathering pace.

Lenders, surveyors, estate agents and property websites have all been reporting a strong pick-up in activity following the launch of Funding for Lending, which has prompted a big improvement in mortgage availability and rates.

Other initiatives such as NewBuy and Help to Buy have been aimed at giving people with smaller deposits a leg-up.

House prices in UK rise £9,000 in a year say Halifax

UK House prices rose at their fastest pace for almost three years in July as market activity intensified ahead of the traditional August lull, the latest figures from mortgage lender Halifax showed today.

The 4.6% rise in the month was the strongest since August 2010. It means house prices have risen by just over £9,000 in a year.

House prices were 0.9% higher in July than in June reaching £169,624 on average, marking the sixth consecutive month on month increase in house prices. Last July the average house cost £160,428.

Commenting, Martin Ellis, housing economist, said:

"House prices in the three months to July were 2.1% higher than in the previous three months. This is similar to the rates of increase recorded throughout the first six months of 2013. Prices in the three months to July were 4.6% higher than in the same three months last year, the highest annual rate since August 2010. Sales have also picked up with total purchase transactions for the first half of the year 6% higher than in the same period last year.

"Signs of improvement in the economy, underlined by the recent evidence of a rise in gross domestic product in Quarter 2 and increases in employment, appear to have boosted consumer confidence. Greater confidence is likely to have underpinned the increase in housing demand. Official schemes, such as the Funding for Lending Scheme and the Help to Buy equity loan scheme, may also be raising demand. House prices are expected to continue to rise gradually through this year with only modest economic growth and still falling real earnings constraining housing demand and activity."

Key facts

• House prices in the latest three months (May-July) were 2.1% higher than in the preceding three months (February-April).
• Prices in the three months to July were 4.6% higher than in the same three months a year earlier. This was higher than June's 3.7% increase and is the highest annual rate since August 2010 (4.6%).
• House prices increased by 0.9% in July. This was the sixth consecutive monthly rise.
• Activity is also higher. Home sales in the first six months of 2013 were 6% higher than in the same period last year, at 495,000. (Source: HMRC, seasonally adjusted figures). The number of mortgage approvals for house purchases – a leading indicator of completed house sales – in the second quarter of 2013 was 6% higher than in the first quarter despite a 1% fall between May and June. (Source: Bank of England, seasonally-adjusted figures).)
• Supply still low. The increase in sales over the past year has not been matched by higher supply with the stock of unsold properties on the market lower than it was a year ago. The resulting tightening in market conditions has probably contributed to the modest upward pressure on house prices. Surveyors have, however, reported an overall increase in the number of homeowners providing instructions to sell in the last few months, which could help to bring demand and supply into better balance. (Source: RICS).