Halifax shows housing market exceeds expectation to finish 2019 with a bang

Director of Benham and Reeves, Marc von Grundherr, commented:

“Whether or not you agreed with the outcome, last month’s election helped to reignite the smouldering embers of an otherwise weary property market. Not only is this boost immediately evident within December’s monthly and annual top line growth, but those of us on the front line also enjoyed an almost immediate uplift in buyer interest and commitment to transactions.

Yes, we’re far from over the line and of course, a large degree of uncertainty still remains until a deal is officially done, but even a mere step in the right direction has been enough to steady the ship considerably and this bodes well for the year ahead.

While mortgage affordability remains very favourable, we’ve also been promised an economic boost via the first budget in four decades as a non-EU member state, all of which should help build buyer confidence and continue to restimulate house price growth.”

Founder and CEO of Stone Real Estate, Michael Stone, commented: 

“There’s no denying a protracted Brexit process has left the wider property market battered and bruised and as we head into a new decade, it’s important we ease the political plasters from its bloody knee rather than tearing them off in one go. Even with these positive, early signs of a rejuvenated market.

An unyielding appetite from the nation’s aspirational first-time buyers and a resolute new build sector have ensured that while the rate of price growth has been muted, there has been no meaningful declines. With the worst now hopefully behind us, these two areas of the market should continue to go from strength to strength over the coming year and help drive performance back to previous health.”

Properganda PR

National and local media coverage for property businesses. Journo quotes delivered in minutes.

You May Also Enjoy

how to present your property for sale
Estate Agent Talk

We’ve got the visitors. Now we need your listings.

Sponsored content, paid for by Domovita. More than 10,000 people a month come to Domovita, and nearly nine in ten of them arrive on a sold-price page for one particular street, looking up what the houses there went for. You can look up your own patch here. What those people don’t find yet is enough…
Read More →
Breaking News

Housing market hit by £18m increase in fall-through costs in Q2 2026

The latest Fall-Through Index by the House Buyer Bureau reveals that the number of property fall-throughs across the UK increased by 6.6% during the second quarter of 2026, resulting in an additional £18.3m in costs to the housing market compared to the previous quarter.   House Buyer Bureau analysed the latest data from TwentyCi on the…
Read More →
Breaking News

More than half of ‘Mumlords and Dadlords’ give rent back to help children buy their first home

54% of parents return some or all of the rent paid by their adult children to help them save for a deposit Just over a third say their children are living at home specifically to save for a house deposit; 45% say they feel like a landlord to their own child Parents charge £303 a…
Read More →
Breaking News

The First-Time Buyer Reality Shock

The First-Time Buyer Confidence Gap: 90% Feel Prepared, 71% Get an Unpleasant Surprise The First-Time Buyer Anxiety Index unveils a major ‘confidence gap’ which leaves first-time buyers unprepared for the realities of getting on the property ladder. Nine in 10 first-time buyers believe they are prepared and understand the home buying process before they begin…
Read More →
Breaking News

£50k hit when climbing the property ladder

The average homeowner in England faces an estimated £15,513 in associated costs when upsizing their home, according to the latest research by Yopa. However, in London this figure climbs as high as £47,704. The full-service estate agency analysed the estimated cost of upsizing across England, based on selling an average flat or terraced home and…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

Conveyancing causes more stress than property chains

The latest research by Lyons Bowe has found that 42% of recent homebuyers say conveyancing is the biggest barrier to a smooth property transaction, compared with just 19% who point to property chains. The survey of 1,000 recent homebuyers* examined which aspects of the transaction process had presented the biggest barriers to a smooth journey,…
Read More →