Asking prices rise, but are they selling?

Rightmove's asking price data for May 2017 show that prices are still on the up. The portal reports that asking prices rose for the fifth month in a row, up 1.2% (+£3,626) this month alone, bringing the UK's average property asking price to £317,281.

Rightmove's Miles Shipside comments: 

“Whilst all-time high asking prices or economic and political uncertainty could be deterrents to would-be home-buyers, this month shows another strong set of figures. Demand is exceeding supply in many parts of the country and continues to push up the prices of newly-marketed homes. Spring is in the air and home movers are springing up the housing ladder.

We normally see a high proportion of market activity in the first half of the year, and in spite of potentially disruptive events the established pattern is continuing. It remains to be seen how much momentum may drop away in the second half of the year with stretched affordability a problem for potential buyers, though competition among lenders who are keen to lend will help some to push their budgets higher. Those with the greatest motivation to move are often those with growing families, with their need for space or access to schools outweighing uncertainties that might cause others to delay their future housing plans.

As well as that shrinking house feeling, parents with young children also have the pressures of travelling times to amenities as well as the weekday school commute. These have to be balanced against under-pressure finances, even more so when the sector with the property type that suits them best is seeing the biggest price jump. What seems to be happening is that moving pressures are understandably taking priority over electioneering and Brexit worries. For many in this group, it seems that moving is definitely on their manifesto.”

What's changed in the housing market this month? Find out in our latest House Price Index: https://t.co/Yj0uceL8Gf #property #news #HPI pic.twitter.com/isYUYtDQEQ

— Rightmove (@rightmove) May 22, 2017

Asking prices for homes continue to climb while sales prices slow https://t.co/cfR4mJHqPM

— Telegraph Property (@TeleProperty) May 21, 2017 

Average asking price for homes in UK hits record high of £317,000 https://t.co/QWEhwcsMzK

— Guardian news (@guardiannews) May 22, 2017

After years of house price hikes - this could be the news London's homebuyers have been waiting for https://t.co/AVBgp22yMH

— ES Homes & Property (@HomesProperty) May 21, 2017

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