UK Commercial Property Update Cautious view on Central London office rents still looks right The tight supply of available space in Central London office markets is likely to boost rental values this year. But there has recently been a pretty steady flow of less encouraging demand data... 5th April 2011 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Chart Pack Subdued activity suggests price stability is unlikely to last Last month’s housing market news-flow may have been slightly more positive than of late, but it didn’t change the underlying picture of a market that remains severely depressed. And if unemployment... 4th April 2011 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Data Response Nationwide House Prices (Mar.) The latest rise in the Nationwide house price index adds to a number of recent data releases suggesting that prices may have stabilised in recent months. Although the extent of any further house price... 31st March 2011 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Data Response House Prices (Jan.) The housing market began 2011 in the same vein as it ended 2010, with prices heading south. Moreover, while the latest risk retention housing reform proposals are good for the long-term health of the... 29th March 2011 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Data Response Mortgage Lending (Feb.) Despite February’s small rise, mortgage approvals for house purchase remain below the level reported in November, before December’s surprise plunge. And looking further back, approvals are just 40% of... 29th March 2011 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Data Response Land Registry Repeat Sales Index (Feb.) The small gain in house prices in January is unlikely to signal an end to the weakening trend in house prices. Indeed, if our economic forecasts are correct, the downward pressures on house prices are... 28th March 2011 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Data Response New Home Sales (Feb.) The 16.9% m/m decline in new home sales to a record low of only 250,000 annualised in February, from 301,000 the month before, underlines just how bad conditions in the housing market still are. 23rd March 2011 · 1 min read
US Data Response New Home Sales (Feb.) The 16.9% m/m decline in new home sales to a record low of only 250,000 annualised in February, from 301,000 the month before, underlines just how bad conditions in the housing market still are. 23rd March 2011 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Data Response BBA Mortgage Lending (Feb 11) After falling fairly steadily through 2010, the latest rise suggests that mortgage approvals for house purchase may be finding a floor. But the bigger picture is that, with approvals for house... 23rd March 2011 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Update How significant are the latest house price expectations data? The latest house price expectations surveys remain negative, but are not signalling an adjustment on anything like the scale seen in 2008-09. Nevertheless, their record in anticipating house price... 21st March 2011 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Focus Will institutional investment in housing increase? Institutional investment in the private rented sector will not increase without a significant fall in house prices and continued strong demand from tenants. Even then, policy changes are required, but... 17th March 2011 · 1 min read
US Data Response PPI, Housing Starts (Feb.) & Current Account (Q4) The surge in PPI inflation won't sway the Fed. It has already said that it expects the commodity-related upturn will be "transitory". With core PPI inflation still low and the economic recovery... 16th March 2011 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Data Response FSA Mortgage Lending Statistics (Q4) The latest FSA mortgage lending statistics suggest that credit criteria tightened marginally in the fourth quarter. A lack of lending at higher loan-to-value ratios will continue to drag on activity... 15th March 2011 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Update Is now the time to fix? Assessed over a two year period, Bank Rate would have to rise to at least 2.75% to make it pay to fix at current mortgage interest rates. However, market expectations are for Bank Rate to rise to 2.25... 14th March 2011 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Data Response Mortgage Applic'ns (Feb.) & Negative Equity (Q4) Mortgage applications continued to trend lower in February, underlining the point we've made before that the latest rebound in home sales is being driven almost exclusively by cash buyers and... 9th March 2011 · 1 min read
US Data Response Mortgage Applic'ns (Feb.) & Negative Equity (Q4) Mortgage applications continued to trend lower in February, underlining the point we've made before that the latest rebound in home sales is being driven almost exclusively by cash buyers and... 9th March 2011 · 1 min read
