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| House prices: Southend sees highest growth with 14.8% rise in 2012 | House prices: Southend sees highest growth with 14.8% rise in 2012 |
| (8 months later) | |
| It has the longest pleasure pier in the world, an expanding airport and is an hour away from London by train. Now Southend-on-Sea can also claim the highest rise in house prices during 2012 – of 14.8%. | It has the longest pleasure pier in the world, an expanding airport and is an hour away from London by train. Now Southend-on-Sea can also claim the highest rise in house prices during 2012 – of 14.8%. |
| The year-on-year increase in the Essex resort took the average selling price to £198,418, according to a roundup of the year by Halifax, the country's biggest mortgage lender. | The year-on-year increase in the Essex resort took the average selling price to £198,418, according to a roundup of the year by Halifax, the country's biggest mortgage lender. |
| The top five towns for house price rises in 2012 are in southeast England and only two in the top 10 – Lowestoft in East Anglia and the university city of Durham in the north – are outside London and the southeast. | The top five towns for house price rises in 2012 are in southeast England and only two in the top 10 – Lowestoft in East Anglia and the university city of Durham in the north – are outside London and the southeast. |
| With house prices generally having barely moved during 2012, Martin Ellis, housing economist at Halifax, is expecting little change in 2013. "We expect continuing broad stability in house prices nationally in 2013," he said. | With house prices generally having barely moved during 2012, Martin Ellis, housing economist at Halifax, is expecting little change in 2013. "We expect continuing broad stability in house prices nationally in 2013," he said. |
| Again, prices are expected to be strongest in London and the southeast where the economy has been most buoyant. | Again, prices are expected to be strongest in London and the southeast where the economy has been most buoyant. |
| "The generalised north-south divide in house price performance seen during 2012 is likely to continue next year," Ellis said. | "The generalised north-south divide in house price performance seen during 2012 is likely to continue next year," Ellis said. |
| His remarks follow a survey by Hometrack, the property analytics business, which showed prices rising in most districts across London and much of the southwest while house prices in the north and Midlands fell during 2012. | His remarks follow a survey by Hometrack, the property analytics business, which showed prices rising in most districts across London and much of the southwest while house prices in the north and Midlands fell during 2012. |
| Halifax said the biggest falls were recorded in Craigavon in Northern Ireland and Wishaw in Scotland, where prices fell 18.4% and 12.5% respectively. | Halifax said the biggest falls were recorded in Craigavon in Northern Ireland and Wishaw in Scotland, where prices fell 18.4% and 12.5% respectively. |
| "Several towns within easy commuting distance of the capital feature in the list of top performers while the majority of towns that have fared worst in house price terms are outside southern England, where economic conditions have generally been less favourable," Ellis said. | "Several towns within easy commuting distance of the capital feature in the list of top performers while the majority of towns that have fared worst in house price terms are outside southern England, where economic conditions have generally been less favourable," Ellis said. |
| Southend is "particularly less expensive" than London, Halifax said, and also offers the attractions of living by the sea. | Southend is "particularly less expensive" than London, Halifax said, and also offers the attractions of living by the sea. |
| Basingstoke is only just behind Southend in the top 10, with price rises of 14.7%, while the average house costs £220,000 in the Hampshire town. Of the top 10 climbers, St Albans had the highest house prices with an average of £371,131 after a 13% rise during the year. | Basingstoke is only just behind Southend in the top 10, with price rises of 14.7%, while the average house costs £220,000 in the Hampshire town. Of the top 10 climbers, St Albans had the highest house prices with an average of £371,131 after a 13% rise during the year. |
| The 18.4% fall in prices in Craigavon took the cost of an average house to £91,520. Only one town – Grays, also in Essex – in the top 10 biggest falls is in the southeast. All the others are in Scotland or the north and northwest of England. | The 18.4% fall in prices in Craigavon took the cost of an average house to £91,520. Only one town – Grays, also in Essex – in the top 10 biggest falls is in the southeast. All the others are in Scotland or the north and northwest of England. |
| Halifax based its review on changes in the 12 months to November. | Halifax based its review on changes in the 12 months to November. |