01/11/2005

House prices ‘rebound’ in October

House prices increased by 1.3% in October, according to the latest figures from the Nationwide building society.

The increase reverses the falls seen in August and September, bringing the annual growth rate to 3.3%.

Nationwide said that August’s interest rate cut – from 4.75% to 4.5% - seemed to be the key to the boost and activity in prices.

October’s rise saw the average price of a house in the UK increase to £157,107 from £152,159 the previous year, the Nationwide said. However, prices rose by just 0.2% in the three months to the end of October.

Nationwide said that consumers’ expectations of house prices were “consistent with a market adjusting to sustainable levels”.

Fionnuala Earley, Nationwide group economist, said that it was too early to say if the housing market had reached a turning point and if prices would continue to accelerate.

Ms Earley said that one of the reasons was the fact that affordability remained a problem. She said: “Affordability and overall debt levels will still have to adjust to more comfortable levels before we can expect any widespread increase in demand and, thus, prices.”

The publication of Nationwide’s figures follow Monday’s announcement by the Bank of England that the number of mortgage approvals had risen to its highest levels in 15 months.

(KMcA/SP)

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