In 2023, the housing market witnessed a significant shift, marked by the sale of one million homes alongside soaring mortgage rates exceeding 6%, leading to a 1.2% decline in house prices. Here's a comprehensive overview of the key happenings throughout the year:
Key Insights:
- One million homes were sold in 2023.
- House prices experienced an average decline of 1.2% across the UK.
- The Bank of England raised the bank rate five times.
- Mortgage rates reached a peak of 6.44% for a two-year fixed-rate loan.
- Standard Variable Rate mortgages surged to 8.74%.
Throughout 2023, there were five increases in the bank rate, occurring in January, March, May, June, and August. These increments collectively raised the rate from 3.5% in January to 5.25% by the year-end.
This resulted in a significant impact on mortgage rates. For instance, the average five-year fixed-rate mortgage escalated from 5.05% in January to a peak of 6.37% in early August, currently stabilizing at 5.22%. Similarly, the average two-year fixed-rate mortgage surged from 5.43% in January to a peak of 6.44% in July, now standing at 5.94%. Standard variable rate mortgages also surged to an average of 8.74% from 6.61% at the start of the year.
The fluctuation in mortgage rates led to heightened online searches related to mortgage information every 23 seconds, reflecting the concerns of buyers and homeowners.
The impact of these rate hikes significantly curtailed the purchasing power of buyers by approximately 20%, subsequently affecting housing sales. While house prices began to decline in southern UK regions during the first half of the year, the downturn expanded to encompass all regions and price bands across the UK by the year-end, resulting in an average 1.2% drop in house prices.
Major Changes in House Prices:
- Average UK house prices fell by 1.2%.
- The largest declines were observed in the East of England (-2.6%), the South East (-2.4%), and London (-2.0%).
- Cities like Bournemouth (-2.6%), Southampton (-2.3%), and Cambridge (-2.3%) experienced substantial price drops.
- However, regions like Scotland (+1%) and Northern Ireland (Belfast +2.3%) saw house price increases.
Despite these declines, property prices generally remained higher than pre-pandemic levels, even in the regions experiencing the most significant decreases.
Popular Property Types and Sales Trends:
- Terraced houses were the most sold property type (140,000), followed closely by semi-detached homes (130,000) and apartments/flats (120,000).
- Homes with three bedrooms continued to be the most sought-after property type.
- The popularity of detached homes dwindled due to their higher pricing, while apartments regained favor among first-time buyers as a more affordable option.
Sale Breakdown by Property Types:
- Terraced houses: 140,000
- Semi-detached homes: 130,000
- Apartments/flats: 120,000
- Detached homes: 89,000
- Maisonettes: 9,000
- Townhouses: 7,000
Regarding the duration for selling a house, the average time fluctuated from 36 days at the beginning of the year to 29 days in April, eventually settling at 38 days presently. The housing market initially saw buoyancy as mortgage rates decreased but witnessed a slowdown as rates surpassed 5%.
Rental Market Trends:
- Rent prices for new lets increased consistently by 10% or more for over 20 months.
- Scotland witnessed the highest rent growth at 12.7% due to rent controls, leading landlords to maximize their new let rates.
- A shortage of rental properties and minimal growth in supply contributed to the upward trajectory of rental prices.
- Landlords exited the rental sector due to reduced profitability, while potential first-time buyers prolonged their stay in rented accommodations in anticipation of lower mortgage rates.
Rental Affordability and Market Challenges:
- The average rent as a percentage of gross earnings ranged between 25% and 28% for a decade but currently stands at 28.4% due to double-digit rental growth over the past 20 months.
- Declines in home building and limited investments by private landlords are expected to persist into 2024, primarily due to elevated borrowing costs.
Notable News and Popular Topics:
Throughout the year, house prices, affordable locations for home buying, and schemes like Save to Buy and First Homes drew significant attention from readers. Renters sought information on affordable rental locations and viewing inquiries.
Most Popular Property Round-Ups:
- Properties under £10,000 at auctions topped the popularity charts, followed by homes under £100k and properties at the national average sales price.
- New-build homes under £250k and affordable living areas in South West England attracted substantial interest.
- Features like annexes for multi-generational living, castle homes, and tiny houses also garnered attention.
Overall, 2023 proved to be a transformative year for the UK housing market, characterized by fluctuating prices, shifts in property preferences, and significant impacts from mortgage rate fluctuations on both buyers and renters.
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