ComputerHunter.org |
|
|
|||
|
 |
Uk House Price Increases Take A Summer Holiday
Property website Rightmove has released its latest house price index announcing a "Summer sale" for house buyers. The report shows that on average, house prices fell by 1% over the four weeks leading up to 9th July, indicating that the "affordability gap" between house prices and buyers ability to purchase, is at last starting to close. The price fall has been heralded as a great boost for house buyers and an indication that the fears of an expected imminent price crash may be premature. The statistics show that the asking price demanded by sellers over the report period fell by an average of £1,993 implying that; "Sellers are now realising they have to compromise some degree of their gains in order to sell their properties," said Miles Shipside, Commercial Director of Rightmove. The Rightmove conclusions correspond with other reports from Halifax and the Nationwide Building Society. Halifax reported that annual house price inflation had fallen behind average earnings growth for the first time since 2001. The new figures have lead to UK firms becoming more optimistic about the economy than they were three months ago, with companies such as Lloyds TSB expecting interest rates to be cut next month, leading to a general increase in economic confidence. However indicators show that there is a long way to go to attract many first-time-buyers (FTB). Figures, based on mortgage value requests, released by financial comparison site Moneynet prior to last months slow down, gave the average value of a property purchase for an FTB as £206,250, up from £194,961 two months earlier, a massive jump which could not possibly have been matched by equivalent wage increases. The recent slight price drop follows a long period of huge price increases, and with house price inflation a year ago topping 18%, equivalent to an average of £29,991, it may be some time before many FTBs feel able to enter the market. A recent survey by Abbey highlights the trepidation felt by FTBs with just over a third indicating that they wanted to buy a home within the next year, but only 5% of these were actually confident that they would be able to. National Savings and Investments (NS&I) Senior Savings Strategist Dax Harkins said: "Despite a recent cooling house market, house prices have continued to outstrip both savings rates and incomes over the last year which means potential first-time buyers need to start saving sooner and harder to get into the market." Rightmove believes the housing market is in for a summer where competing sellers are more likely to be flexible on prices, further improving the situation for buyers. They postulate that sellers and estate agents appear to have been brought to their senses by a painful 12 months and have belatedly taken matters into their own hands by reducing prices to a level at which increasing numbers of buyers are able to proceed. The report sounds a note of caution however, stating that, "Rises in interest rates or sellers over-optimistic expectations on price could choke off any recovery however." Speculation on what is in store following the summer lull remains sceptical. The Halifax predicts house prices will fall in 2005, while independent financial adviser, Julian Crooks believes, "There does seem to be a danger of negative equity so people should be preparing their finances to cope." "Sellers are having to work really hard to attract buyers at present," says Richard Donnell, spokesman for estate agent FPD Savills, "there are a lot of aspirational sellers out there, who still hark back to the hot market. They need to ask their estate agent to give them a realistic valuation and ask them how they can improve their chances of a sale." Rightmove has warned that the housing market could remain static for several years whilst it waits for the incomes of FTBs to catch up with the housing prices. Miles Shipside, Commercial Director of Rightmove, said "As many sellers are refusing to part with gains they have made, buyers are forced to make up the affordability gap?The reality is it will take seven years of static house prices and wage inflation to bridge this affordability gap." The market appears to be in a state of change with sellers more open to negotiation than previously, but many buyers, especially the critical first timers remain wary or still find themselves priced out of the market. Note: References: Richard works in Edinburgh for a media company, occasionally writing for the personal finance blog Cashzilla, and drinking too much coffee.
Google News - Top Stories
|
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Home Equity Loan ? Still a Better Idea Than a 401(K) Loan Anyone who borrows money is always looking for the cheapest source of funding. That makes sense; no one wants to pay more in interest than is absolutely necessary. And anyone with a sizeable amount of debt, such as credit card debt or a student loan, would be wise to consolidate their debt with a lower interest loan. One source of such a loan is a 401(K) account, which many consumers may have through their employer. Since the interest rate on Federal student loans rose on July 1, many students who missed that deadline may be wondering if consolidating through a 401(K) loan is a good alternative. Is it? Types of Mortgages Here is a useful guide to the different types of mortgages that are available. Home Equity Loans ? Research Your Lender Carefully Real estate prices are rising across the country, and Americans are tapping into their home equity like never before. Americans took out $431 billion in home equity loans in 2004, and that amount may increase in 2005. The reasons vary; some are using the money for home improvement, others are using the money to buy real estate, and some are taking reverse mortgages in order to enjoy a better retirement. With interest rates still near historic lows and the bull real estate market continuing, more and more predatory lenders are entering the lending profession.Most lenders are honest, and prospective borrowers will probably not have any problems resulting from taking out a loan with a national bank. On the other hand, newer, smaller, and less honest lenders are advertising aggressively and may grab your attention by offering terms that seem more favorable than those offered by the larger banks. Sometimes, these terms sound too good to be true, and they often are. Here are a few things to watch out for when taking out a home loan:A promised low interest rate "disappears", only to be replaced with a higher figure on the contract at closing time. The borrowers, who expected to close right then and there, feel pressured to sign and often accept the higher interest rate.Previously unmentioned fees turn up on the application at closing. Again, by presenting these previously undisclosed fees at closing time, the borrower is pressured to sign.Blanks on the application form. It's hard to believe that a lender would present a blank form and assure the borrower that the blanks will be filled in later, but this actually happens, and borrowers actually sign such deals. Remember, your signature on the form constitutes your agreement to the terms, even if the terms are filled in later.These problems can be avoided by taking a few simple precautionary steps. Ask about the total fees and interest rates ahead of time. Inform your lender that you fully expect to see those same figures on the documents at closing, and make it clear that you will not sign documents that state otherwise. Make certain that you have provided honest information to the lender. Refuse to sign any blank documents. These things may seem obvious, but when closing approaches, borrowers tend to get in a hurry, as they are eager to get the closing out of the way. Borrowing against your home is not something to take lightly; you can lose your home if you unknowingly sign a predatory document. Take your time. Mortgage Refinance - Tips to Help You Cut Fees and Costs Saving money through a mortgage refi is more than just finding the lowest interest rates. You can further cut fees and costs through the structure of your loan, avoiding PMI, and buying lower interest rates. Real Estate Mortgage Loans Online Online real estate mortgage loans enable borrowers to be sure they are getting the best financing rates. By comparing online quotes, you can save time and money with no risk. An added bonus is the ability to apply for loans online from the comfort of your own home. What is the PayOption ARM? Imagine an adjustable rate mortgage that allows you to pick one of four payment options on your monthly mortgage bill. It is an ARM on which the interest rate adjusts monthly and the payment adjusts annually, with borrowers offered options on how large a payment they will make. The options include interest-only, and a "minimum" payment that may be less than the interest-only payment. The minimum payment option results in a growing loan balance, termed "negative amortization". Best Buy to Let Mortgages Are you looking for the best buy to let mortgages with the lowest rates payable? Need to calculate repayments on-line? Not sure how much you can borrow? These are all questions that you may well be asking yourself if you are looking for the best buy to let mortgages. Five Things Never To Tell Your Mortgage Lender When Facing Foreclosure 1. Never discuss your household finances over the phone with the collection department. What you don't know is that you are being qualified and not know it. This is the easiest and fastest way to get a turn down. Request a homeowners assistance package so that you can submit the require information. Uk House Price Increases Take A Summer Holiday Property website Rightmove has released its latest house price index announcing a "Summer sale" for house buyers. The report shows that on average, house prices fell by 1% over the four weeks leading up to 9th July, indicating that the "affordability gap" between house prices and buyers ability to purchase, is at last starting to close. The price fall has been heralded as a great boost for house buyers and an indication that the fears of an expected imminent price crash may be premature. How to Get the Best Mortgage This is a guide on how to get the best mortgage deal. Do not rush into the first offer that is made to you even if you are in a hurry for a mortgage. Take your time, check out what is on offer from local banks, building societies and mortgage brokers. The more time you spend doing this will equate to greater savings on your mortgage. Remember for most people it is something that they will only do once, so do it right! What is a Tracker Mortgage? A tracker mortgage 'tracks' the Bank of England base rate, meaning your mortgage stays in line with interest rates and the market in general. The result on your monthly mortgage interest payments is that they go up when the base rate goes up and go down when the base rate goes down. Tips for Finding the Best Agri Mortgage and the Best Agri Loan The Research Rates of Agri Mortgage A Home Loan Can Help You Own Your Dream Home Owning your dream home need not just be a dream. You can own it with a home loan offered by any number of financial institutions to help meet the shortfall between the purchase price of the home and the down payment that you provide. Jumbo Home Mortgage Loans - What They Are and Where To Get Jumbo Loan Financing A jumbo mortgage is different than a conforming loan. A jumbo loan amount exceeds that limit set by FNMA. That limit can change every year, but is around $300,000. With a jumbo mortgage, the interest rate is a little higher than other similar mortgage loans that are for smaller amounts. The reason the rate is higher is because the loan has a perceived higher risk by lenders. High Risk Home Mortgage Lenders Online Online high risk home mortgage lenders specialize in offering loans to people with adverse credit due to bankruptcy or other financial problems. By analyzing online quotes, you can find a reasonable mortgage loan even with poor credit. Loan approval is then just a matter of filling out your online application and reviewing some final paperwork. Mortgage Loans Explained In Plain English With the many different kinds of mortgage loans out there, choosing the right one for your needs can be a difficult task. The following points will help you understand the pros and cons of the different types of mortgage loans available to you. Mortgage Information for the First Time Homebuyer Inflation in the United States is increasing rapidly and home prices are soaring! There are millions of american families that are unaware of the many mortgage programs that are available for first time homebuyers. Consolidate Your Debt With a Home Equity Loan and Improve Your Credit Score A home equity loan is a loan based on the difference between what your current home value is and what you currently owe on your house. There are also mortgage companies that will loan a little over the equity you have in your home. They can usually do this safely because most homes appreciate in value over time. Reverse Mortgage Offers Fresh Approach To Income From Real Estate If you owe 40 percent or less of your original mortgage, there is a great program that is available to you that will generate extra monthly income. It's called a reverse mortgage. The reverse mortgage is similar to a home equity loan, only in the fact that it pays you the equity you have in your house. The differences, though, are many. If you have a large amount of equity in your home, you'll want to consider a reverse mortgage. Where To Find The Best Rates For Your Mortgage? As with all of my articles this will be based on a scenario in my home town. (Which may be similar to yours).
|
|
|
|
|
