Economic factors underpinning housing market are still strong

Following the release of the RICS housing market survey, Peter Bolton King, Chief Executive of the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) called for steadiness amongst property market professionals and said that there are still strong economic factors underpinning the market that have not changed and that there is some good news.

"The positive news is that the RICS survey showed that just under a quarter of its respondents appear to have reported a rise in house prices, which shows how regionalised the picture is. We are already aware from our own members that house prices are being affected differently throughout the country so to find such regional discrepancies comes as no surprise.

"No one is denying that the housing market is in a tricky situation but it is important to keep it in perspective and we do need to exercise discretion in the figures, for instance the report states that the East Midlands is showing falling prices, yet the recently released Halifax house price index showed a 2.2% rise in the same region. This also needs to be set against the fact that these areas have seen huge price rises over the last ten years.

"The market is battling with the credit crunch, which has undoubtedly had an effect on confidence. However, the key factors that underpin the housing market still exist - low unemployment, historically low interest rates and a pent-up demand for houses. We can see from the figures that it is not all doom and gloom out there and we need to tread very, very carefully before making long-term judgements on the market at this current, unsettled, time."