Average UK home values up almost 3% in first half of 2015

Taylor Scott International News

The average value of homes across Britain rose by 2.75% during the first six months of 2015, with all regions seeing price growth, according to new figures. At the start of July the average price stood at £270,674, up £6,974 on January’s figure of £263,699, the data from property website Zoopla shows. A breakdown of the data show that although there is general growth the rate of growth varies from region to region. Scotland experienced the highest rate of growth, with an average increase in property values of 6.6% or £11,382, taking the average home value in Scotland to £183,230. The next best performing regions were the North East and North West registering a 3.1% and 3% increase respectively. Wales was the worst performing region for property price increases over the first half of 2015 with an average rise of only 1% or £1,584. Among the 50 largest cities in Britain Edinburgh registered the largest growth in house prices since January 2015 of 8.2%, representing a £20,465 increase in the average home value in the city. Next was Colchester in Essex which saw property prices rise by 7.6% or £19,088, during the six month period, followed by Aberdeen with a 6.4% or £15,416 rise in values. London saw prices rise by only 2.5%, below the national average, but this amounted to a rise of £14,385 because of the higher price of property in the capital city. Yorkshire had three of the 10 worst performing cities for house price growth in the first half with Rotherham seeing a fall of 2.1% or £2,752. Wolverhampton, Newcastle upon Tyne and Middlesbrough also saw a modest drop in average houses over the period. ‘While national property price growth saw a slow start to the first half of the year, it recovered strongly towards the end of the period. The strong regional figures across the board indicate an economy which is returning to health, with a series of Government incentives designed to encourage home buying helping to boost demand for property in all parts of Britain,’ said Lawrence Hall of Zoopla. He explained that the surge in property values in Scotland can, in part, be explained as a post referendum bounce, as businesses and capital flood back to Scotland, after withholding investment during the volatile September referendum period in 2014. ‘A post general election feel good factor must not be discounted as more devolution promised has given property prices a bounce as Scots anticipate more jobs and investment coming their way,’ he added. Continue reading →

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