UK Housing Market Update Mortgage lending spreads – why are they so wide? Although market interest rates edged down in September, mortgage interest rates remained stable. As a result, mortgage lending spreads, already at unprecedented levels, widened further. We suspect... 30th October 2009 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Data Response Land Registry house prices (September) 28th October 2009 · 1 min read
Nordic & Swiss Economics Update Swedish Riksbank in no hurry to raise interest rates The Swedish Riksbank’s latest economic forecasts suggest that a tightening in monetary policy remains a long way off. This supports our view that interest rates are unlikely to rise as quickly or as... 22nd October 2009 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Update Australian experience does not alter the outlook for UK house prices In common with the UK, house prices in Australia have also staged a surprising recovery this year. Both markets suffer from structural housing supply shortages, so this could suggest that we are being... 20th October 2009 · 1 min read
US Economics Weekly Commercial real estate loans won’t bring down banks 19th October 2009 · 1 min read
Europe Economics Update Spanish house prices set to fall much further The latest Spanish housing market data suggest that residential property prices are no longer falling as sharply as they were at the turn of the year. Nonetheless, we think the housing market downturn... 15th October 2009 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Update What would the end for self-certification mortgages mean? Yesterday’s Times reported that in next week’s Mortgage Review, the FSA will recommend the introduction of a rule which effectively spells the end of self-certification mortgages. If it is implemented... 14th October 2009 · 1 min read
US Economics Focus Housing recovery built on fundamentals, not the tax credit 6th October 2009 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Focus Housing recovery built on fundamentals, not the tax credit The US government’s support for first-time buyers may not have boosted housing activity by as much as has been suggested. The good news is that this means more of the recovery is based on fundamental... 6th October 2009 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Update Does the rise in consumer confidence explain the rise in house prices? Last year, consumer confidence and house price growth fell broadly in tandem, with both reaching record lows as the economic downturn took hold. More recently, they have both been rising. However, the... 25th September 2009 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Update Will mortgage arrears jump higher as discounted tracker rates expire? Over the next six months, many of the borrowers who have benefitted most from the fall in interest rates will see their mortgage payments increase. At the margins, this is likely to boost mortgage... 11th September 2009 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Update Auction data point to renewed house price weakness ahead The price of property sold at auction suggests that, having risen slightly in recent months, the market clearing price for residential property has fallen back again. This may be a warning sign that... 26th August 2009 · 1 min read
UK Economics Focus Recent house price rises lack a firm foundation The recent rises in the major house price indices have fanned hopes that the worst of the housing market correction is now behind us. Yet price rises driven only by a temporary imbalance between the... 21st August 2009 · 1 min read
