House prices are down, but they are really up – July 2020

UK property Prices July 2020

The negative stats were from April through June 2020, with these figures released by the mortgage provider Halifax. Looking at the wider picture and at the yearly figure so far then we have prices rising across Wales and within all regions of England.

When we consider the global crisis that was recently experienced that included a world’s first ever lock-down with people not able to work and the necessary intervention from the government having to support people’s income, then a tiny 0.9% drop, when even the estate agency world was firmly paused, then surely it proves how solid the UK property market really is (only Scotland showed negative years growth figures).

Demand on UK property is still very high and immigration in to the UK is also busy, with the difficulties currently in finding land with permission to build and targets not being met for new house building then for sure there will not be too much of a drop in valuations in the next few months.

the EY Item Club is forecasting a 3 per cent drop over the next few months, before stability resumes at the turn of the year.House prices forecast to fallThis is Money

Many will say, and I agree, that the full effect of Covid-19 is yet to be seen in regards to financial position of government and in turn consumers, but possibly spending in the UK itself will increase especially due to people fearful of travelling such as for holidays, spending happen at home rather than abroad. The will also be no need to pay out to the EU soon substantial daily fees and the chance for big dealings via international trade deals (free trade deals) with countries such as the USA, Australia and New Zealand.

A trade deal between the US and UK will jump start growth…The Daily Telegraph – June 2020

Estate Agencies have mostly reported positive activity following the lock down and the pausing of the UK property market. Speaking with varied agents I know, around the country (England) there seemed to be positive sales / enquiry figures with a slightly slower activity report from within areas of London.

So ahead of us we are still very much in the unknown regarding Covid-19 and it’s overall effect, Maybe it is now all done and dusted and it’s effect will slowly disappear allowing us to get back to normality though of course there are reports that it may re-appear and via a much stronger strain, this of course would be highly damaging to the economy and in turn property prices and sales activity.

One thing is for sure though is that property prices usually remain robust and in all cases they rebound. There maybe a potential doomy and gloomy road ahead, and especially if you read any of the typical politically motivated press, though even a small decline in prices will lead to an increased activity in the market and demand will once again go up!

 

Christopher Walkey

Founder of Estate Agent Networking. Internationally invited speaker on how to build online target audiences using Social Media. Writes about UK property prices, housing, politics and affordable homes.

You May Also Enjoy

Software & Tech

Software GDTJ45 Builder Problems: Causes, Solutions, and Best Practices

If you’ve been using GDTJ45 Builder software, you might have noticed it’s not always as smooth and reliable as expected. From installation errors to unexpected crashes and slow performance, many users experience problems that can disrupt workflow, delay projects, and cause frustration. This article will walk you through the most common GDTJ45 Builder problems, explain…
Read More
Breaking News

Developers draw confidence from improving lending landscape

Jonathan Samuels, CEO of Octane Capital, believes that improving conditions across the lending landscape have helped to boost developer confidence heading into a new year, despite a number of challenges still remaining, with specialist finance remaining a key weapon in their arsenal. The latest survey of UK property developers, commissioned by specialist lender Octane Capital,…
Read More
Breaking News

Happy New Year! UK construction performance finishes 2025 on a high

GLENIGAN INDEX: UK construction starts 2026 on a stronger footing with 2025 concluded with a significant increase in project starts during the Index period The value of project starts increased by 7% during Q.4, but remained 7% below 2024 levels. Residential construction starts declined by 2% in the preceding three months and by 20% against…
Read More
Breaking News

Prime London homeowners unmoved by mansion tax

The latest look at prime London property supply from Jefferies London has shown that the volume of homes priced at £2m or more listed for sale across Prime Central London (PCL) fell by -9.3% during the fourth quarter of 2025, but £2m+ homes still account for 35% of PCL stock. Jefferies London analysed current for-sale…
Read More
Breaking News

2026 Predictions for the Auctions Sector

Daniel Gale, Head of Auctions, First for Auctions, part of LRG “As we enter 2026, market conditions are expected to mirror those seen last year. Buyer confidence remains cautious, borrowing costs are still high, and lenders continue to tighten criteria. This ongoing pressure on private treaty sales is driving more sellers towards auction as a…
Read More
Breaking News

First-time buyer demand edges higher in Q4

The latest research by Yopa has revealed that first-time buyers are beginning to return to the market, encouraged by stabilising interest rates and the base rate cut seen in December, with demand edging higher during the final quarter of the year. Yopa analysed first-time buyer (FTB) demand based on the proportion of homes listed under…
Read More