Cost of typical home up £33,000
Annual growth in houses prices reached 14.3% in February
Houses prices increased at the fastest annual pace for over 17 years in March, reports Nationwide.
The annual growth in houses prices reached 14.3% in February, which is the strongest pace of growth since November 2004, said Nationwide.
Cost of typical home up £33,000
The cost of a typical home in the UK struck a new record high of £265,312, up £33,000 in the last year.
Prices are being pushed up by strong demand, limited supply and a healthy jobs market.
Nationwide, said the UK housing market had a “surprising amount of momentum given the mounting pressure on household budgets and the steady rise in borrowing costs.”
Cost of living rises have not slowed acceleration in house price growth, Nationwide said.
Houses prices over a fifth up on early 2020
House prices are now over a fifth up on early 2020 when the pandemic hit.
"A combination of robust demand and limited stock of homes on the market has kept upward pressure on prices," said Robert Gardner, Nationwide's chief economist.
The UK labour market is buoyant; job vacancies reached a record high in October last year, and unemployment has continued to drop, which may have helped the UK housing market, he said.
Also, some people built up "significant savings" during lockdowns, which is "likely to have helped prospective homebuyers raise a deposit".
Nationwide expects house price growth to slow over the coming year, due to high inflation rates and interest rate increases.
The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), an independent body making economic forecasts for the government, made a prediction in October last year that house prices would drop in 2022.
Find out how much your house is worth
Find out how much your house is worth; book a free property valuation and consultation with Preston Baker Estate and Letting Agents.
Book your free property valuation now.