Spring 2012
The most recent Rightmove House Price Index is indicating that there will be more activity this year and that average asking prices are up 1.6 percent this month. There is increasing confidence in some sectors of the market but activity is still patchy.
Simon Lambert in the Daily Mail recently wrote
“Economists the CEBR have predicted house prices will rise by 15 per cent over the next five years, as a shortage of homes counteracts economic gloom. However, If house price did rise 15% over that period it would be an average of 2.8 per cent annually – a far slower rate than the 1980s to 2000s period. Estate agents still report a stand-off between sellers and buyers, with the former reluctant to cut prices and the latter unwilling to pay over the odds. Home sellers must either have a desirable property to sell in an in-demand area or be willing to lower their expectations, if they want to get a sold sign up outside their house. But the real mark of this housing slump is not the statistics based on mortgage approval figures (Halifax and Nationwide) or even sold prices (Land Registry and others), it is what’s happening to the homes that aren’t selling. With buyers seriously limited, properties that don’t tick all the right boxes are sitting on the shelves unless sellers are willing to cut the price, and with low rates keeping forced sellers to a minimum many are just sitting unsold. “
As ever market towns such as Cirencester, Tetbury and Malmesbury remain popular and although they do not have a railway station, the nearness of the village of Kemble complete with its own station enable these areas to have excellent transport links, a major factor in determining desirability. Cheltenham with great access to the M5 and with a station that links the north, London and the south continues to be a great place to live, as do the villages around Chippenham ,Swindon and Bath with access to fast rail links and the M4.
Signs of more activity are there, sale boards with the magic word “Sold” are popping up around me, the word on the street is Spring is here! Let us hope this optimism will last!
