Lower prices fuelling the interest of owner occupiers

Owner occupiers are returning to the housing market looking for bargains says latest RICS research. Many potential purchasers believe that the market has reached a bottom but first time buyers are still being denied access to the property ladder.

Following three successive monthly increases in the RICS new buyer enquiry series, a reliable lead indicator of transaction activity, RICS has asked further questions of its members to determine what is underpinning this sustained pick up in interest. 71 percent of Chartered Surveyors stated that lower house prices were responsible for the growth in enquires while 48 percent believed that buyers are increasingly convinced that the bottom of the market is insight. Only 35 percent of surveyors believe that lower mortgage rates are tempting buyers. Meanwhile, just 15 percent referred to positive personal circumstances overwhelming negative macro concerns.

74 percent of Chartered Surveyors reported that it is existing owner occupiers who are driving the renewed level of interest while 38 percent of surveyors indicated that investors are coming back into the market. However, only 23 percent of surveyors thought that first-time buyers are a factor in the market. Interestingly, almost one in ten respondents suggested that overseas buyers were now looking for opportunities in the UK residential market, benefitting as they are, from favourable currency movements.
95 percent of Chartered Surveyors reported that existing houses were the most popular type of dwelling for those enquiring and only 32 percent of surveyors reported interest in flats. New build properties remain an even less attractive proposition for potential buyers.

Commenting, Simon Rubinsohn, RICS chief economist said: "Interest from owner occupiers is likely to persist over the comings months as those with large deposits look to capitalise on the drop in house prices. However, a sharply deteriorating employment picture may eat away at this improvement in sentiment pushing potential buyers back to the sidelines. To prevent this happening and help restore an orderly housing market, the government urgently needs to address the issue of the availability of mortgage finance. It is essential that guarantees for residential mortgage backed securities are introduced sooner rather than later."