The number of people moving home and purchasing with a mortgage has fallen for the first time in five years due to a lack of availability, according to the latest Lloyds Bank Homemover Review. The Review also tracks the rise in average house prices across the same period.
The number of homemovers is estimated to have reached 354,0001 in 2016 – down 4% from the 367,300 in 2015. This is the first annual decline since 2011.
Overall, the current number of homemovers has grown 12% since the lowest point of the recent housing downturn in 2009 when the number of people moving home was 315,000, the second lowest since records began. However, the current figure is 50% below the level of 712,000 a decade ago.
Andrew Mason, Lloyds Bank Mortgages Director, says, “Despite favourable economic conditions including record low mortgage rates, high employment levels and rising real pay growth, the number of homemovers fell in 2016 for the first time in five years.
“Whilst higher prices will have lifted equity levels for many current owners, the low availability of the ‘right type’ of homes for those looking to move up the housing ladder may have constrained market activity. Of course, higher prices may explain why more homemovers are opting for longer mortgage terms.”
“The ability of homemovers, particularly those in their first homes, to move on is an important component in the housing market as it increases the supply of properties, providing homes for new first-time buyers.”
In 2016 the average house price paid by homemovers increased by 7 per cent from £273,510 in 2015 to a record high of £291,777.
Rising house prices have been a key factor in driving up average homemover deposits to £96,968, an increase of 33 per cent (£23,978) from £72,270 in 2009.
There are four regions (all in southern England) where the average deposit put down by homemovers has gone past the £100,000 mark. In London, homemovers are, on average, putting down £192,432 to move to the next rung of the housing ladder, an increase of 74 per cent (or £82,015) since 2009.
Meanwhile, the National Association of Estate Agents has reported that the number of prospective buyers registered per branch last month was the highest in 13 years for the month of December. The month also saw almost a third of properties sold to first time buyers, another December figure beating all years back to 2001.
Mark Hayward, Managing Director, National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) commented: “In November we saw a seasonal slowdown; typically it’s uncommon for people to buy and move close to Christmas. Yet, our December findings have completely bucked this seasonal trend. With demand at an all-time December high and sales to FTBs at their highest on record, 2016 closed on a positive note following several months of uncertainty. However, despite an encouraging December, there remains a clear shortage of homes. We await the government’s housing white paper to see how it intends to tackle this and hope the market continues to improve for both buyers and sellers.”
