UK Housing Market Update What impact have rising mortgage interest rates had? Despite making the headlines in recent months, the impact of rising mortgage interest rates on affordability has so far been relatively modest. But with the economy back in recession and renewed fears... 15th May 2012 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Data Response CML Buy-To-Let Lending (Q1) The first fall in new buy-to-let mortgage volumes in five quarters suggests that the recession is taking its toll on landlords. Buy-to-let lending may well contract further later this year, although... 10th May 2012 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Chart Pack Plenty more home sales pending March’s further fall in home sales is a potentially worrying sign that the improvement in housing market activity is already petering out. But we are encouraged by the fact that pending home sales are... 9th May 2012 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Update Is new-build housing demand a sign of improving buyer sentiment? Demand in the new build sector has recently been stronger than for the market as a whole. This could be the first sign that buyer sentiment is improving. But it seems more likely that the data simply... 9th May 2012 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Data Response CoreLogic House Prices (Mar.) House prices rose in March and based on leading indicators, the short-term trend could strengthen further in the coming months. Over the year as a whole, however, house prices are more likely to... 8th May 2012 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Chart Pack Housing market headwinds strengthen The big picture of depressed demand, fragile confidence and an underlying house price trend which is, at best, flat, was little changed this month. But news that the economy has fallen back into... 4th May 2012 · 1 min read
UK Data Response Halifax House Prices (Apr.) April’s slump in the Halifax house price index must be taken with a large pinch of salt. The underlying trend in house prices is soft, and will almost certainly soften further. But, for now, it is... 4th May 2012 · 1 min read
UK Data Response Nationwide House Prices (Apr.) The underlying trend in house prices has softened notably in the past five months. That seems consistent with reports that mortgage credit conditions are tightening and that the economy is now back in... 3rd May 2012 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Data Response Mortgage Applications (Apr.) The further rise in mortgage applications for home purchase is an encouraging sign that mortgage-dependent buyers are beginning to contribute to the improvement in home sales. But with credit... 2nd May 2012 · 1 min read
UK Data Response Mortgage Lending (Mar.) The post-stamp duty holiday downturn in mortgage approvals for new house purchase may have come to an end in March. But we are doubtful that mortgage lending will now mount a sustained recovery. 2nd May 2012 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Data Response Land Registry Repeat Sales Index (Mar.) March’s drop was not enough to prevent average house prices in England and Wales from recording a modest rise during the first quarter. But with the economy seemingly now back in recession and... 1st May 2012 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Data Response BBA Mortgage Lending (Mar.) March’s drop in mortgage approvals gives further weight to the idea that housing demand at the turn of the year was artificially boosted by the stamp duty holiday. If extended, March’s rise in... 26th April 2012 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Update Renewed recession underscores likelihood of housing downturn Every recession in the UK of the past half century has been accompanied by real house price falls. But unlike many episodes in the past, with inflation low by historical standards, there is a good... 25th April 2012 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Data Response Case-Shiller Prices & New Home Sales (Feb/Mar) The small rise in the Case-Shiller index in February supports our view that house prices are either very close to, or already through, their trough. But with new home sales still very subdued in March... 24th April 2012 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Data Response Existing Home Sales (Mar.) March’s decline in existing home sales probably reflects the normal month by month volatility rather than renewed underlying weakness. The increase in households’ confidence in the outlook for the... 19th April 2012 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Data Response Housing Starts (Mar.) The UK has now experienced about four years of below-average productivity growth. We remain sceptical that this means that productivity growth has been permanently damaged. So we still think that a... 17th April 2012 · 1 min read
