December 2020 is set to be the busiest month in the housing market in over a decade according to Zoopla. They report that house price inflation is expected to reach 4% by the end of the year but expect house price growth to slow to 1% in 2021.

Regionally, the South East saw the greatest rise in completions in 2020, up 7% year-on-year.

Zoopla suggests that of the new sales agreed in January, just half are likely to beat the SDLT deadline of the 31st March 2021, based on evidence from the previous year.

HOUSE PRICES:

Nationwide figures show that annual house price growth reached a 5 year high in October 2020:

• Annual house price growth rises to 5.8% in October, this is the highest rate since January 2015
• Prices up 0.8% month-on-month, after taking account of seasonal factors
• Average Price (not seasonally adjusted) £227,826

Commenting on the figures, Robert Gardner, Nationwide’s Chief Economist, said:

“The outlook remains highly uncertain and will depend heavily on how the pandemic and the measures to contain it evolve as well as the efficacy of policy measures implemented to limit the damage to the wider economy. Behavioural shifts as a result of Covid-19 may provide support for housing market activity, while the stamp duty holiday will continue to provide a near term boost by bringing purchases forward”

THE ECONOMY

• The Office of National Statistics The Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers’ housing costs (CPIH) 12-month inflation rate was 0.9% in October 2020, up from 0.7% in September 2020.
• The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) 12-month rate was 0.7% in October 2020, up from 0.5% in September. 

GOVERNMENT:

As part of a £20bn overall government investment in long-term housing strategies, Chancellor Rishi Sunak revealed on the 25th November in his spending review speech, that the government is launching a £7.1bn Home Building Fund. The government initiative is intended to support the building of new homes, where they are most needed.

The Chancellor has also confirmed a £12bn investment for the Affordable Homes Programme.

Help to Buy: Equity Loan Scheme announced:

The Government is replacing the existing Help to Buy Equity Loan scheme with a new scheme that is restricted to first-time buyers only and introduces regional price limits.

The current scheme allows both first-time buyers and homeowners to use the Government-backed Help to Buy Equity Loan to buy a new-build home. The launch of the new scheme will result in only first-time buyers being able to apply for the loan, which must be used towards buying a new-build property.

In the new scheme, first-time buyers will still be able to borrow up to 20% (40% in London) of the cost of a newly built home. The buyer must pay a minimum of 5% deposit for the home and then need a help to buy mortgage to fund the remaining cost of the property. The loan is interest-free for the first five years and then interest fees start at 1.75% and rise each year in April by the Consumer Prices Index plus 2%. Borrowers are charged a monthly management fee of £1 for the term of the loan. The new Help to Buy Equity Loan (2021-2023) is due to replace the existing scheme on 1 April 2021.

Regional price caps have also been newly introduced, meaning homes eligible for the loan must be below the set maximum price. First-time buyers wanting to use the Help to Buy: Equity Loan (2021-2023) can reserve their new home using the scheme from 16 December 2020.

Henry Knight, Managing Director of Springtide Capital commented:

“The news of the new scheme is a positive one. It will help to support first time buyers enabling them to get onto the property ladder, especially first time buyers with smaller deposits who may face a much more limited choice of high loan-to-value mortgages.”

Sources:

House price growth close to three-year high – Zoopla

October 2020 House Price Release | Nationwide

Consumer price inflation, UK – Office for National Statistics

https://www.mortgageintroducer.com/govt-launch-1-7bn-home-building-fund/

https://www.helptobuy.gov.uk/equity-loan/help-to-buy-equity-loan-2021-2023/

The confidence in the UK housing market is at a four-year high, according to surveyors and estate agents. Nationwide reports that UK house prices saw their biggest annual rise last month since 2016. On average, values rose by 5% this September compared to September 2019.

There has been a huge surge in mortgage applications at a time when lenders face considerable challenges in getting their offerings out to borrowers. Be patient, lenders are lending. If your application is taking a long time it is not necessarily that there is an issue.

In the current market lenders have had to withdraw some 90% deals in order to have the capacity to keep processing applications. In trying to support buyers, lenders have been inundated, and removing some deals serves to stem the flow of business so that they make the overall volume more manageable.

The current delays have come about due to a number of factors. Staff across the mortgage industry, like other sectors are still working from home and subject to changing regulations and local lockdowns. Where staff are still working in an office, if several members of one  team need to self-isolate at one time in accordance with the Government legislation, this can make a significant difference to how long items take to progress.

Existing customers have been contacting lenders about mortgage holidays therefore they have had more calls to contend with causing delays. Just as with Mortgage Payment Holidays, the admin associated with the Bounce Back Loan scheme has added to the workload of lenders with staff previously employed in mortgage departments being moved to teams dealing with these types of emergency loans.

The property market is busier than ever and demand for mortgages is high. More people have decided to move since lockdown. With home working increasing, many people have decided they need a home with space for an office, while others have decided they simply need more space. Also, some people living in flats or in smaller homes with limited land have decided they need a garden. There has also been pent-up demand in the market created from 23rd March until 13th May when restrictions were in place.

The Stamp Duty holiday announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak on the 8^th July has boosted the property market. Buyers can save money on their house purchases as Stamp Duty has been cut on properties up to £500,000, whereas previously it was only at zero on properties up to a value of £125,000. Many buyers are keen to take advantage of this cut.

Volumes are consistently high across England and are higher than any of us expected. This increased pressure on the system also highlight issues inherent in the systems themselves. For example almost a third of English councils are taking 20 days or more to return local authority searches. Changes have been required across the industry in processes to accommodate new COVID related practices too.

Henry Knight from Springtide Capital commented:

“Everyone across the industry is inundated but do be patient. Banks are not quite back to the pre -COVID normal and the government stimulus of the stamp duty cut will continue to hold up transaction numbers for the next few months. Mortgage availability is healthy. We are all working together to process all parts of applications as quickly as possible”

Take a look at our tips to help your mortgage application run as smoothly and quickly as possible.

Sources:

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2020/sep/10/confidence-in-uk-housing-market-at-four-year-high-say-estate-agents

https://www.nationwide.co.uk/-/media/MainSite/documents/about/house-price-index/2020/Sep_Q3_2020.pdf

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/stamp-duty-land-tax-temporary-reduced-rates

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-a-coronavirus-bounce-back-loan

https://www.mortgagestrategy.co.uk/news/delays-put-buyers-at-risk-of-missing-stamp-duty-holiday/?eea=eHVnWE93ZDhyYWF1YVE3YlZiamUzR0JEckd6eUwyMDhNT2dkN1ZJZXF6WT0=&n_hash=922

Responding to the needs of customers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, mortgage payment holidays can be extended for a further three months, under plans from the government and regulators.

The availability of a three month mortgage holiday was first announced in March as part of an unprecedented package of support for individuals, businesses and the economy due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Figures from UK Finance show 1.86 million mortgage payment holidays have been issued as of May 28^th 2020 – equivalent to one in six mortgages.

Regarding the mortgage payment holiday scheme, on April 3^rd 2020 Springtide Capital cautioned:

“The money you save from a payment holiday will need to be paid back at some stage during the lifetime of your mortgage and are specifically aimed at those that find themselves in financial difficulty. We encourage you to speak with one of our experienced brokers and we will help you understand the pros and cons specific to your mortgage. It is important that you understand the potential implications and all your alternative options”

Springtide Capital further strengthened their position later the same month stressing that borrowers should only take a repayment holiday as a “last resort”.

What to expect:

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published new draft guidance for lenders which will set out the expectations for firms and the options available to their customers. Following a short consultation, the guidance is set to come into force imminently and lenders will contact their customers whose mortgage holiday is coming to an end.

The outline guidance is set out as follows:

• Customers who can afford to return to full repayment should do so in their best interests– at the end of a payment holiday, firms should contact their customers to find out if they can resume payments and if so, agree a plan on how the missed payments will be repaid.
• Anyone who continues to need help gets help– lenders should continue to support customers who have already had a payment holiday where they need further help. Firms are expected to engage with their customers and find out what they can repay and, for those who remain in temporary financial difficulty, offer further support. As part of this firms should consider a further three-month payment holiday.
• Extending the time the scheme is available to people who may be impacted at a later date– customers that have not yet had a payment holiday and experiencing financial difficulty will be able to request one until 31 October 2020.
• Keeping a roof over people’s head during a public health crisis– the current ban on repossessions of homes will be continued to 31 October 2020. This will ensure people are able to comply with the government’s policy to self-isolate if they need to.
• Payment holidays and partial payment holidays offered under this guidance should not have a negative impact on credit files. However, consumers should remember that credit files aren’t the only source of information which lenders can use to assess creditworthiness.
• This guidance would not prevent firms from providing more favourable forms of assistance to the customer, such as reducing or waiving interest.
• Firms should consider signposting customers towards sources of debt advice. Debt advice may be helpful for customers coming to the end of payment holidays and may be particularly useful for consumers with pre-existing payment shortfalls or who are likely to be in longer-term financial difficulty.
• When implementing this guidance, firms should be particularly aware of the needs of their vulnerable customers and consider how they engage with them. For customers who aren’t able to use online services (such as digital channels), firms should make it easy for customers to access alternatives.

Christopher Woolard, Interim Chief Executive at the FCA, said: ‘Our expectations are clear – anyone who continues to need help should get help from their lender. We expect firms to work with customers on the best options available for them, paying particular attention to the needs of their vulnerable customers, and to provide information on where to access help and advice. Where consumers can afford to re-start mortgage payments, it is in their best interests to do so. But where they can’t, a range of further support will be available.’

It has been recently reported that Joe Garner, chief executive of the Nationwide Building Society has stated that a borrowers credit file should be marked if they take a further mortgage holiday. It has not yet been decided whether further mortgage repayment breaks will be marked on credit files. Currently, lenders can see whether a holiday has been taken without it being negatively marked on credit history.

Henry Knight, Managing Director of Springtide Capital commented:

“Our advice remains the same, a mortgage holiday is only for people who absolutely need one. We are pleased guidance is being set out but we urgently need to hear from lenders to understand how this further mortgage payment holiday extension will impact borrowers. Brokers need banks to be transparent on the implications of a borrower taking a mortgage holiday”

This is a difficult and changing time and it is not yet apparent what the long-term impact of the payment holiday scheme will have on both borrowers and the market. To a large extent, the majority of the financial effects of the lockdown have yet to be fully realised, but ultimately it serves no one’s interests if a borrower takes on an unaffordable mortgage.

The mortgage payment holiday scheme is a vital lifeline to those homeowners who are suffering financially due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. But, whilst helping with short-term cash flow issues, a full understanding of the implications of a mortgage payment holiday must be thoroughly investigated. Lenders must be transparent in how they are going to view or interpret information in the medium to long term. The mortgage market has a strong appetite to lend and is committed to helping those customers who need assistance. The upcoming regulation from the FCA will help provide certainty for all parties.

Sources:

https://www.fca.org.uk/publications/guidance-consultations/mortgages-coronavirus-updated-draft-guidance-firms

http://emaila.ukfinance.org.uk/q/1H8LdNb8HjSWcgJdMWTNN/wv

https://springtidecapital.com/

https://www.fca.org.uk/news/press-releases/fca-support-customers-struggling-mortgage-coronavirus

https://www.mortgagesolutions.co.uk/news/2020/04/22/brokers-warn-mortgage-holidays-should-be-last-resort-for-borrowers/

https://www.fca.org.uk/news/press-releases/fca-support-customers-struggling-mortgage-coronavirus

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52847131

The housing market has re-opened to a promising start in England. There is cautious optimism as new regulations have been embraced and practices modified. The changes made to accommodate the COVID-19 pandemic have been many and the industry has proven to be resilient and flexible.

Safety First

Restrictions began to ease three weeks ago with comprehensive guidance published by the Government. This document is frequently updated. Pan industry guidance from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has supported the return to work of thousands of support professionals who play a critical role in the housing sector, specifically on physical inspections for mortgage valuations and home surveys. The document that outlines safe practices is relevant to property agents, lenders, mortgage advisers, property lawyers/conveyancers, surveyors, energy assessors, property managers, home removal and associated professionals such as contractors involved in the property development, management and the home moving processes. Ensuring social distancing practices are adhered to has proved key to re-opening safely and to regaining buyer confidence.

Surge in buyer demand

Buyer demand across England surged by 88 per cent after the housing market reopened, figures from Zoopla show (correct as of 27^th May 2020). The website detailed that almost 60 per cent of buyers in the UK are planning to continue with their search for their next property. Although, 41 per cent said they have put their plans on hold with loss of income, uncertainty in the market and lack of confidence in future finances given as reasons for this decision.

Richard Donnell from Zoopla commented:

“The scale of the rebound in demand for housing is welcome news for estate agents and developers, but it is also surprising given projections for a sharp rise in unemployment and a major decline in economic growth. Many households are likely to have re-evaluated what they want from their home. This could well explain the scale of the demand returning to the market.”

Mortgage enquiries

Brokers were unfurloughed and advisers returned as mortgage market activity increased. As solicitors returned to near pre-lockdown levels, completion dates are now being set and purchases progressed.

Searches for products and mortgage deals across the housing market started in earnest and the number of product illustrations downloaded by brokers has increased for the fifth consecutive week, data from Mortgage Brain reports. Mortgage Brain highlights a number of interesting facts (data correct as of 3^rd June)

• Over the past seven days the number of European standardised information sheets downloaded by mortgage advisers increased by 11.5 per cent.
• Volumes have increased by 27.7 per cent since the housing market formally reopened three weeks ago and by 43.7 per cent from the lowest point seen in the week ending April 26.
• However, ESIS downloads are still down by 23.7 per cent on the nine-week average to March 16.
• The number of available mortgage products now stands at 8,635, which is 2.2 per cent higher than last week and 16.3 per cent higher than the low point in the week ending April 12.

Kevin Roberts, director, Legal & General Mortgage Club notes also that there are many promising signs:

“We saw lenders …returning to 90 per cent LTV and my conversations with advisers across the market suggest that they are seeing positive interest from clients as well. Our data also shows that adviser searches on behalf of a wide range of customers, from first-time buyers through to landlords, are increasing too.”

Henry Knight, Managing Director of Springtide Capital commented:

“The initial surge in the market is a welcome sign. The substantial amount of effort to make this happen whilst securing the safety of all parties is a huge achievement. All involved in the industry, my own staff included, have proved to be flexible and resilient in adapting practices and procedures in line with regulations throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been inspiring to see the dedication from all involved, and to see how the market continues to evolve to meet the unprecedented situation we have all been faced with”

First-time buyers and key workers will get 30% discount on new homes under the government’s proposed new ‘First Home’s scheme.

First-time buyers and key workers and will be able to buy new-build homes with a 30% discount under a new scheme being proposed by the Government. It will be designed to help people in areas of high demand, who would be unable to afford to buy a home locally without the discount. It is anticipated that it will enable first-time buyers in England to save an average of nearly £100,000.

The government consultation for the design of ‘First Homes’ is currently underway. Key workers, such as nurses, police officers, firefighters, and teachers, as well as armed forces veterans, will be given priority to take advantage of the initiative.

There is no doubt that it will require time and patience for the market to fully recover. There is much uncertainty about what lies ahead and many pressures we face are still present. Economically we will face significant challenges. Some areas of the market may take longer to bounce back than others, for example purchases by overseas clients will remain slow until travel restrictions are lifted. But there are also many positives and the way we have reacted and adapted within the industry is heartening. There is much liquidity in the market, lenders are keen to lend, backlogs have been cleared and initiatives are present to help those with financial challenges. As an industry we have pulled together successfully and are ready to help buyers with their next steps.

………………………….

Sources:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/homes

https://www.rics.org/globalassets/rics-website/media/news/covid19/covid-19-guide—re-opening-the-uk-home-moving-market-13-05-2020.pdf

https://www.zoopla.co.uk/press/releases/demand-for-housing-in-england-jumps-above-prelockdown-levels-as-60-of-potential-buyers-say-they-will-push-ahead-with-their-plans/

https://www.mortgagesolutions.co.uk/news/2020/05/26/brokers-unfurlough-advisers-as-mortgage-market-activity-jumps/

https://www.mortgagestrategy.co.uk/news/market-momentum-builds-mortgage-brain/

https://www.mortgagestrategy.co.uk/opinion/comment-open-for-business/?eea=eHVnWE93ZDhyYWF1YVE3YlZiamUzR0JEckd6eUwyMDhNT2dkN1ZJZXF6WT0=&n_hash=576

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/864265/First_Homes_consultation_document.pdf

Post election bounce in the housing market signals a positive start to 2020

The housing market is responding positively to December’s election result, delivering much-needed stability for home-movers, new Rightmove data has revealed. *figures correct as of 19.02.20

Rightmove reports that there has been a 2.3% surge in the price of property being listed for sale. This is the largest monthly rise ever recorded at this time of year. The previous highest January rise was 2.2% recorded in January 2015. This is an encouraging sign for an active spring market ahead.

Commenting on this renewed level of optimism, property expert Miles Shipside at Rightmove said:

“These statistics seem to indicate that many buyers and sellers feel that the election result gives a window of stability. The housing market dislikes uncertainty, and the unsettled political outlook over the last three and a half years since the EU referendum caused some potential home-movers to hesitate. There now seems to be a release of this pent-up demand, which suggests we are in store for an active spring market.”

Immediately post the election in the period from 13th December to 9th January, enquiries to estate agents were up by 12% compared to the same period a year ago. This then led to a 7.1% increase in the number of sales agreed over the same period.

Post-election jump in buyer demand highest in London

Rightmove highlight initial signs of an uplift in buyer demand now the election is over with the biggest increase in London, according to new figures. *figures correct as of 19.02.20

In December demand across the UK from prospective buyers increased by 28% in the four days after the election (Friday 13 – Monday 16 December) compared to the same four days in 2018 (Friday 14 – Monday 17 December), with the biggest increase recorded in London, up 54% on the previous year.

Henry Knight, Managing Director of Springtide Capital said:

“These are encouraging signs for an active spring market in London. Figures suggest that the ‘wait-and-see’ buyers have been given a new confidence by the increased political certainty brought about the election and even though there will be further Brexit activity on the horizon, it is an encouraging start to 2020”.

Bristol is most popular place outside London for home hunters

Bristol has the accolade of the most searched for place outside of London for both buyers and renters in 2019, new Rightmove data has revealed.*figures correct as of 19.02.20

The average asking price of property in Bristol is £316,410, which is around £283,000 cheaper than in the capital, while homes for sale in Bristol spent an average of 50 days on the market before finding a buyer this year – selling quicker than anywhere else in the South West.

In London, the most searched for place for buyers was Wimbledon and for renters was Canary Wharf. In the capital, Hoxton in the London borough of Hackney has seen the biggest year-on-year increase in average asking prices, with average asking prices rising by 11.4% to £1,019,510 this year. Battersea in Wandsworth has seen the biggest increase in average asking rents, with prices rising by 14.1% over the past year to £2,544 per month.

At Springtide Capital we provide high quality impartial mortgage advice. We are a specialist mortgage broking business committed to providing a personal and efficient service. We understand the complexities of finding the right loan to suit both your financial and personal circumstance.

Sources:

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/news/articles/property-news/post-election-bounce-as-optimism-returns/

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/news/articles/property-news/post-election-jump-in-buyer-demand-highest-in-london/

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/news/articles/dream-properties/bristol-is-most-popular-place-outside-london-for-home-hunters/