CBRE reports that real estate prices in the United Kingdom (UK) are not expected to rise in 2012, but that a three-year forecast shows promise. Experts say low mortgage rates are helping to create a buffer in the market and that house prices will likely remain static over time, but lending restrictions must ease before real progress can begin. CBRE is forecasting an 8% gain in prices over the course of three years; however, critics warn that London’s ever-increasing prices may be influencing this projection too much. For more on this continue reading the following article from Property Wire.
Although residential property values will fall marginally in 2012, house prices will start to rise again next year and could increase by as much as 8% over the next three years, according to the latest CBRE house price forecast.
Prime central London will continue to outperform the wider housing market with values increasing by 6% in 2012 and by a total of 22% over the next three years.
‘Despite the market being characterised by monthly fluctuations, the longer term outlook for the housing market is fairly static. We don’t expect it to pick up until the economy fundamentally improves,’ said Jennet Siebrits, head of residential research, CBRE.
Claim up to $26,000 per W2 Employee
- Billions of dollars in funding available
- Funds are available to U.S. Businesses NOW
- This is not a loan. These tax credits do not need to be repaid
‘Low interest rates are continuing to stave off repossessions and forced sales, but a substantial proportion of would be buyers remain unable to move. Ultimately, bank lending still needs to loosen further to spur on housing market activity,’ Siebrits added.
Buyers of homes over £2 million will face an additional £40,000 bill following the introduction of the 7% rate of Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT). However, of more concern is the new 15% SDLT rate for ‘non natural persons’.
‘Property prices in prime central London have increased by 30% over the last two years, so the additional expense incurred by the introduction of the new 7% rate has to be viewed within the context of the significant and ongoing price rises in high value homes,’ explained Siebrits.
‘The new regulation designed to prevent overseas buyers avoiding SDLT could have unintended consequences as it also captures UK domiciled companies. However, it must be stressed that this only affects a small proportion of the market as transactions of homes over £2 million only accounted for 0.25% of the market last year across England and Wales,’ she added.
This article was republished with permission from Property Wire.
