Blog Post

Housing market bounce pushes prices close to new record

Caz Blake-Symes • Apr 25, 2024

Adapted from a Rightmove Property News article 22 April 2024

The average asking price of a home in Britain has risen by 1.1% since March, to £372,324.


This is in line with the sort of rise we usually see at this time of year, and brings average prices to within just £570 of their all-time record, which they reached back in May 2023.


This is mostly being driven by an increase in the average asking price of ‘top-of-the-ladder’ homes, which are typically the highest-priced properties. These homes – which include four-bedroom detached houses, and properties with five or more bedrooms – have also seen the strongest start to the year for price growth in 10 years.


Why is there more activity at the top of the market right now?

In the aftermath of the mini-Budget in September 2022, mortgage rates rose sharply, which caused some home-movers looking for top-of-the-ladder homes to pause their plans. 


But we’re now seeing the release of a long period of pent-up demand in this sector. More sellers of these larger homes have put their properties on the market than last year (+18%). There has also been an increase in the number of sales agreed across all property types, but the biggest sales boost has been for top-of-the-ladder homes (+20%) when compared to the same period in 2023. 


In response to this jump in activity, new sellers are feeling they’re able to set their asking prices higher than a year ago.

Our property expert, Tim Bannister, says: “The top-of-the-ladder sector continues to drive pricing activity at the start of the year, with movers in this sector typically less sensitive to higher mortgage rates, and more equity rich, contributing to their ability to move. While some buyers, across all sectors, will feel that their affordability has improved compared to last year due to wage growth and stable house prices, others will be more impacted by cost-of-living challenges combined with elevated mortgage rates.”


First-time buyers are often looking to take out a mortgage within a higher loan-to-value (LTV) bracket – and these tend to come with the highest mortgage rates. In comparison, those further up the ladder will often have larger deposits, and more equity in their homes. This often means they need to borrow less, so they’re offered the lowest available mortgage rates.

There’s also a general trend of more stability in the mortgage market right now. There have been fewer headline-grabbing fluctuations of mortgage rates, which saw many movers pause their plans until the market became steadier.


What’s been happening to house prices over the past year?

Throughout the second half of 2023, we saw average asking prices drift down marginally, ending the year around 1% lower than they were 12 months previously. 


But after a record number of sellers put their homes on the market on Boxing Day 2023, and a strong start to the spring selling season, we’ve seen average asking prices edge back up, and they’re now 1.7% higher than they were at this time last year. 


The increased activity in the housing market we’ve seen at the beginning of this year has fed into the rise in asking prices. This is because new sellers putting their homes on the market aren’t feeling the need to lower their asking prices in the hope of finding a buyer.


Is now a good time to move?

The positive activity levels we’re seeing this Spring shows that many would-be movers are thinking that now is the right time for them to find their next home, particularly before the typically quieter summer months. 


“In addition to the holiday season, the Euro 2024 football tournament and the Olympics this summer, likely followed by a General Election during the second half of the year, will add more buyer distractions than usual. There appears to be a tempting window of opportunity for those who are considering a move to act now before these distractions arrive,” says Tim.


The header image for this article was provided courtesy of The Agency UK, Covering Nationwide in the original Rightmove article.


Contact Us

For further details about the mortgage and protection products we offer as a fully independent mortgage broker, or any other mortgage information, book your FREE CONSULTATION with one of our expert Mortgage and Protection Advisers.

Bristol Mortgages Online              www.bristolmortgagesonline.com        Tel 0117 325 1511

Bath Mortgages Online                  www.bathmortgagesonline.com            Tel 01225 584 888

Weston Mortgages Online            www.westonmortgagesonline.com       Tel 01934 442 023

Exeter Mortgages Online               www.exetermortgagesonline.com         Tel 01392 690 888



By Caz Blake-Symes 29 Apr, 2024
We work closely with a number of very reputable, local and reasonably priced Solicitors practices that we will highly recommend. If you don’t have a preferred Conveyancer, please ask your Adviser to arrange a no -obligation quotation.
By Caz Blake-Symes 22 Apr, 2024
We are very excited to announce an excellent product for First Time Buyers. This particular lender only deals with Brokers/Intermediaries like ourselves. Therefore, we will be delighted to see if this product is suitable for your specific needs
By Caz Blake-Symes 25 Mar, 2024
Signs of life were seen in the UK housing market in the new year with a rise in the number of mortgages being approved. Activity remains weak overall, with potential buyers still nervous about high interest rates. But the latest Bank of England data shows approvals for house purchases rose to 55,200 in January from 51,500 in December. This was the highest level since October 2022.
By Caz Blake-Symes 18 Mar, 2024
Sky high house prices, slow wage growth, student loans and rising rent costs mean that getting on the property ladder is challenging. But the desire to own a home remains strong for many young adults. Now, the affectionately known ‘bank of mum and dad’ (or bank of other family members) may wish to lend or give money for deposits and other house purchase costs
By Caz Blake-Symes 04 Mar, 2024
All measures of sales market activity continue to improve as pent-up demand returns to the housing market. Buyer demand is 11% higher than a year ago. A better indicator of market health is sales agreed which are 15% higher than a year ago – evidence of greater buyer confidence and more realism on pricing by sellers. The North East (+17%) and London (+16%) have led the rebound in sales.
By Caz Blake-Symes 12 Feb, 2024
A poor credit rating can be a major barrier to getting a mortgage, but the good news is, there are lenders who are prepared to help those whose applications may be refused elsewhere. It might not seem fair but even having a big deposit in place and a decent salary isn’t enough to guarantee you a mortgage, if you have a poor credit history.
By Caz Blake-Symes 29 Jan, 2024
Over the years, many of our clients have said they prefer to get Christmas and New Year out of the way before thinking about moving. This general feeling has now been backed up by a survey carried out by Rightmove, the findings were published by them on 25 January 2024. Here are some of the highlights from the report…..
By Caz Blake-Symes 19 Jan, 2024
We are always so pleased to receive such positive feedback from our clients. Here is a 5-star Google review from Vanessa.
By Caz Blake-Symes 11 Jan, 2024
At Bristol, Weston, Bath and Exeter Mortgages Online we deal with a great many clients who have their own businesses and will gladly discuss all the options available to you if you are self-employed, even if you only have one year’s accounts.
By Caz Blake-Symes 04 Jan, 2024
Mortgage lenders have started the year by cutting rates, taking some of the pain out of the cost of a new deal for homeowners. The UK's biggest lender, the Halifax, has cut some interest rates by close to one percentage point, with brokers now expecting others to follow suit. HSBC has announced it will make cuts on Thursday, in what is being described as a "fast-moving market".
Show More
Share by: