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UK house prices see annual fall UK house prices in 1% annual fall
(about 1 hour later)
House prices in the UK have recorded their first annual fall for 12 years, according to the Nationwide.House prices in the UK have recorded their first annual fall for 12 years, according to the Nationwide.
Prices fell by 1.1% in April, the sixth monthly decline in a row, and were down 1% from the levels seen in April 2007, the building society said.Prices fell by 1.1% in April, the sixth monthly decline in a row, and were down 1% from the levels seen in April 2007, the building society said.
Nationwide said the price falls reflected a weakening market which had been hit by "poor affordability and tighter financial market conditions".Nationwide said the price falls reflected a weakening market which had been hit by "poor affordability and tighter financial market conditions".
An average home now costs £178,555, which is £1,759 lower than April 2007.An average home now costs £178,555, which is £1,759 lower than April 2007.
'Cautious consumers''Cautious consumers'
"April was another difficult month for the housing market," said Fionnuala Earley, Nationwide's chief economist."April was another difficult month for the housing market," said Fionnuala Earley, Nationwide's chief economist.
Prices have been rising consistently in the last four of five years, so a bit of a fall is due. It is what markets do Peter Rollings, Marsh and Parsons Estate Agents Nationwide chief economist Fionnuala Earley
She said that there had been a "steep decline" in house buying in the last six months owing to falling demand from first-time buyers, higher mortgage rates and tighter lending criteria.She said that there had been a "steep decline" in house buying in the last six months owing to falling demand from first-time buyers, higher mortgage rates and tighter lending criteria.
The rise in unsold property on the market improved the bargaining power of buyers which pushed down prices.The rise in unsold property on the market improved the bargaining power of buyers which pushed down prices.
She said that this was likely to have a knock-on effect on the wider economy, with consumers becoming more cautious.She said that this was likely to have a knock-on effect on the wider economy, with consumers becoming more cautious.
But rising oil and food prices meant that the Bank of England would "prefer to cut rates at a more gradual rate than homeowners might prefer", she predicted.But rising oil and food prices meant that the Bank of England would "prefer to cut rates at a more gradual rate than homeowners might prefer", she predicted.
HAVE YOUR SAY Hopefully this is the end of the era of property speculation Paul C, Stafford Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY Hopefully this is the end of the era of property speculation Paul C, Stafford Send us your comments
David Blanchflower, a member of the Bank's Monetary Policy Committee which sets interest rates, said in a speech on Tuesday that house prices could fall by 30% over the next few years if interest rates were not cut.David Blanchflower, a member of the Bank's Monetary Policy Committee which sets interest rates, said in a speech on Tuesday that house prices could fall by 30% over the next few years if interest rates were not cut.
He added: "I am not suggesting that such a drop will necessarily occur, but it may. Cutting interest rates now may help to prevent such a dramatic fall."He added: "I am not suggesting that such a drop will necessarily occur, but it may. Cutting interest rates now may help to prevent such a dramatic fall."
A regular cheerleader for lower rates, Mr Blanchflower said "aggressive action" was needed to stop a downturn in the economy.A regular cheerleader for lower rates, Mr Blanchflower said "aggressive action" was needed to stop a downturn in the economy.
'Not the 90s''Not the 90s'
The figures come the day after the Bank's own data showed that new mortgage approvals had fallen to their lowest level since records began in 1990.The figures come the day after the Bank's own data showed that new mortgage approvals had fallen to their lowest level since records began in 1990.
Prices have been rising consistently in the last four of five years, so a bit of a fall is due. It is what markets do Peter Rollings, Marsh and Parsons Estate Agents
This was partly owing to the difficulty for first-time buyers in finding a mortgage deal without a significant deposit.This was partly owing to the difficulty for first-time buyers in finding a mortgage deal without a significant deposit.
But the fall in prices, down 1.8% over three months compared with the previous quarter, will be welcomed by some new buyers who have seen prices rocket up by 45% in the past five years.But the fall in prices, down 1.8% over three months compared with the previous quarter, will be welcomed by some new buyers who have seen prices rocket up by 45% in the past five years.
"Prices have been rising consistently in the last four of five years, so a bit of a fall is due. It is what markets do," said Peter Rollings, managing director of Marsh and Parsons Estate Agents."Prices have been rising consistently in the last four of five years, so a bit of a fall is due. It is what markets do," said Peter Rollings, managing director of Marsh and Parsons Estate Agents.
Ed Stansfield, property economist at Capital Economics, said he expected house prices to fall 20% from their peak by the end of 2009.Ed Stansfield, property economist at Capital Economics, said he expected house prices to fall 20% from their peak by the end of 2009.
"With confidence faltering, the economy now slowing and no sign that the tightening in lending criteria is coming to an end, it is hard to see what will prevent further house price falls," he said."With confidence faltering, the economy now slowing and no sign that the tightening in lending criteria is coming to an end, it is hard to see what will prevent further house price falls," he said.
But Peter Bolton King, chief executive of the National Association of Estate Agents, said the report needed to be put into context.But Peter Bolton King, chief executive of the National Association of Estate Agents, said the report needed to be put into context.
"We have been experiencing huge price leaps of double percentage points in the housing market in recent years," he said."We have been experiencing huge price leaps of double percentage points in the housing market in recent years," he said.
"Overall a 1% drop is a tiny proportion of the rise and certainly not enough to throw many people into negative equity the way we saw it in the early 1990s.""Overall a 1% drop is a tiny proportion of the rise and certainly not enough to throw many people into negative equity the way we saw it in the early 1990s."
Ms Earley added that the housing market was very different to the situation in the late 1980s and early 1990s.Ms Earley added that the housing market was very different to the situation in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
"The underlying conditions for most mortgage borrowers are more positive than some would suggest," she said."The underlying conditions for most mortgage borrowers are more positive than some would suggest," she said.
Bank planBank plan
The Halifax said that prices fell by 2.5% in March compared with the previous month, and the mortgage lender is set to release its figures for April in the next few days.The Halifax said that prices fell by 2.5% in March compared with the previous month, and the mortgage lender is set to release its figures for April in the next few days.
Ms Earley, of the Nationwide, said that the Bank of England's £50bn plan for banks to swap potentially risky mortgage debts for secure government bonds was "well thought out".Ms Earley, of the Nationwide, said that the Bank of England's £50bn plan for banks to swap potentially risky mortgage debts for secure government bonds was "well thought out".
Other surveys suggested a sharp fall in prices in MarchOther surveys suggested a sharp fall in prices in March
She said it would stabilise the volatile mortgage market of the past few weeks, but it would not lead to house prices and mortgage lending returning to the levels seen this time last year.She said it would stabilise the volatile mortgage market of the past few weeks, but it would not lead to house prices and mortgage lending returning to the levels seen this time last year.
She added that, unlike the 1990s crash, more people were on fixed-rate than variable-rate mortgage deals and this helped the stability of the market.She added that, unlike the 1990s crash, more people were on fixed-rate than variable-rate mortgage deals and this helped the stability of the market.
The governor of the Bank of England, Mervyn King, told MPs on Tuesday that it would be a mistake to go back to where the mortgage market was a year ago, when loans were cheaper and easier to get.The governor of the Bank of England, Mervyn King, told MPs on Tuesday that it would be a mistake to go back to where the mortgage market was a year ago, when loans were cheaper and easier to get.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown told the BBC's Today programme that the housing market was one of a number of economic issues "to deal with" along with help for pensioners and low-income families on fuel bills and petrol prices.Prime Minister Gordon Brown told the BBC's Today programme that the housing market was one of a number of economic issues "to deal with" along with help for pensioners and low-income families on fuel bills and petrol prices.
"Now, I think that we can come through this as a country," he said."Now, I think that we can come through this as a country," he said.
Vince Cable, the Liberal Democrat's deputy leader and Treasury spokesman, said substantial house price falls should be expected.Vince Cable, the Liberal Democrat's deputy leader and Treasury spokesman, said substantial house price falls should be expected.
"Unfortunately it does mean that very large numbers of people who often had no choice but to take out very large mortgages at the peak of the market, they now find themselves with the problem of negative equity," he said."Unfortunately it does mean that very large numbers of people who often had no choice but to take out very large mortgages at the peak of the market, they now find themselves with the problem of negative equity," he said.