UK Housing Market Chart Pack Housing market struggling for direction 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 March 2011 · 1 min read
UK Data Response Halifax House Prices (Feb.) The latest decline in the Halifax house price index underlines that the pressures weighing on prices are still very much with us. If, as we expect, these pressures build this year – for example, if... 4th March 2011 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Data Response RICS Lettings Survey (Jan.) Strong demand and another fall in supply meant that rents continued their upward trend in the three months to January. But that trend is likely to moderate during 2011 as the worsening sales... 3rd March 2011 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Update Cash won't be king for forever The fact that the recent rebound in existing home sales has been predominantly driven by cash buyers and investors places a question mark over the sustainability of that rebound. The concern is that... 2nd March 2011 · 1 min read
UK Data Response Nationwide House Prices (Feb.) & Mortgage Lending (Jan.) This morning’s data paints a picture of a housing market that is struggling for direction. But while the pace of any further falls is hard to judge, with mortgage demand so low, February’s modest rise... 1st March 2011 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Data Response Land Registry Repeat Sales Index (Jan.) 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 February 2011 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Data Response New Home Sales (Jan.) & House Prices (Q4) The outlook for new home sales will remain bleak as long as foreclosed homes can be snapped up at heavily discounted prices. Meanwhile, by excluding many foreclosed sales, the FHFA index may not be... 24th February 2011 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Update With activity so low, why aren't prices falling more quickly? The low level of forced selling is almost certainly the main reason why house prices are currently falling more slowly that the ultra-low levels of housing market activity would suggest. However, we... 24th February 2011 · 1 min read
Canada Economic Outlook Housing downturn to hit economy hard Because Canada emerged from the global financial crisis largely unaffected, many Canadians now appear to believe that the economy is somehow invincible. This level of hubris is disconcerting when... 23rd February 2011 · 1 min read
Canada Economic Outlook Housing downturn to hit economy hard Because Canada emerged from the global financial crisis largely unaffected, many Canadians now appear to believe that the economy is somehow invincible. This level of hubris is disconcerting when... 23rd February 2011 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Data Response Existing Home Sales (Jan.) The upward trend in existing home sales is set to remain slow and steady rather than speedy and spectacular. 23rd February 2011 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Hong Kong property bubble growing Hong Kong’s economy is growing at a healthy pace but residential property looks increasingly overvalued and today’s budget underlines that the government has few effective means to help. 23rd February 2011 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Data Response BBA Mortgage Lending (Jan.) The marginal rise in total mortgage lending in January is not particularly encouraging, given that its makes up only one-quarter of the previous month’s fall. Weak demand and hefty refinancing... 23rd February 2011 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Outlook Another year of falling prices House prices will decline by at least 5% this year. The real danger is that a vicious circle of falling prices and rising foreclosures drags prices down even further. 22nd February 2011 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Data Response House Prices (Q4) & Confidence (Feb.) The further fall in the Case-Shiller measure of national house prices at the end of last year took prices to a new cycle low, meaning that a double-dip is now officially underway. Prices are likely to... 22nd February 2011 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Update Four obstacles to housing finance reform The Obama Administration's recent proposals to wind down the government-owned institutions of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and create a market in which private businesses are the primary source of... 17th February 2011 · 1 min read
