Rob Weaver, Director of Investments at property crowdfunding platform Property Partner, comments on April’s Halifax House Price Index:
“The much-heralded stamp duty deadline ultimately led to a stampede by buy-to-let investors and second home owners up to March. Unsurprisingly, April’s dip in house prices is the calm after the storm.”
“A seemingly quieter market belies the ever-increasing squeeze in supply. And with record low interest rates, and buoyant employment, it’s likely that we’ll see a return to price rises in the longer-term.”
“But confidence appears to be flagging, potentially indicating that there may be a softening in annual growth.”
“Predictions can be tricky particularly with another deadline looming – June 23 and the EU referendum. Butterflies in the stomach over a potential Brexit may cause housing activity to go aflutter.”
“Uncertainty is the operative word and we may see a dampening in prices in the short-term.”
Rob Weaver is one of the UK’s most experienced residential property professionals. Rob currently sits on the residential committee of the British Property Federation.