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Carney warns on housing as survey shows prices to rise | |
(about 9 hours later) | |
Bank of England governor Mark Carney has said he is concerned about the "potential" for a UK housing market bubble, but will tighten lending requirements if necessary. | |
"There is a history in the housing market of moving from stall speed to warp speed," Mr Carney said. "We want to avoid that." | |
Meanwhile, a survey suggested house prices will continue "surging ahead". | |
A separate forecast said borrowing would rise. | |
Mr Carney was speaking at the Economic Club of New York. | |
His speech came as the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) found that more surveyors expected prices to rise than at any time in the last 14 years. | |
A separate forecast by mortgage lenders predicted that borrowing would keep increasing in 2014. | A separate forecast by mortgage lenders predicted that borrowing would keep increasing in 2014. |
But the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) added an "unbridled" housing boom was "unlikely". | |
The last time such a clear majority of surveyors expected price rises was in September 1999. | The last time such a clear majority of surveyors expected price rises was in September 1999. |
Short of boom years | Short of boom years |
"It's no secret that the housing market is on the way up and prices are surging ahead in many parts of the country," said Simon Rubinsohn, chief economist for Rics. | "It's no secret that the housing market is on the way up and prices are surging ahead in many parts of the country," said Simon Rubinsohn, chief economist for Rics. |
Meanwhile, the CML is predicting that gross mortgage lending will rise from £170bn in 2013, to £195bn next year, reaching £206bn in 2015. | Meanwhile, the CML is predicting that gross mortgage lending will rise from £170bn in 2013, to £195bn next year, reaching £206bn in 2015. |
In its forecast a year ago, the CML had predicted that mortgage lending would actually fall next year. | In its forecast a year ago, the CML had predicted that mortgage lending would actually fall next year. |
But the forecasts suggest that lending will still fall a long way short of the boom years. | But the forecasts suggest that lending will still fall a long way short of the boom years. |
In 2007, gross lending amounted to £363bn. | In 2007, gross lending amounted to £363bn. |
In the years after 2015, the CML said it believes that housing market activity "may well ease back of its own accord". | In the years after 2015, the CML said it believes that housing market activity "may well ease back of its own accord". |
Analysts say this might happen if the Bank of England raises interest rates, since mortgages would become more expensive. | Analysts say this might happen if the Bank of England raises interest rates, since mortgages would become more expensive. |
'Households will cope' | 'Households will cope' |
The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), an independent watchdog, has said it expects a rate rise to happen sometime in 2015, when it is anticipated that UK unemployment will fall to 7%. | The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), an independent watchdog, has said it expects a rate rise to happen sometime in 2015, when it is anticipated that UK unemployment will fall to 7%. |
The Bank of England has said it would not consider raising interest rates until the unemployment rate hits this key target. | The Bank of England has said it would not consider raising interest rates until the unemployment rate hits this key target. |
The CML has said it believes most borrowers will be able to handle any such increase. | The CML has said it believes most borrowers will be able to handle any such increase. |
"We think there are good grounds to be optimistic that the vast majority of households will cope with a slow but certain transition to more normal interest rates," said Bob Pannell, the CML's chief economist. | "We think there are good grounds to be optimistic that the vast majority of households will cope with a slow but certain transition to more normal interest rates," said Bob Pannell, the CML's chief economist. |
Rics said the decision to end the Bank of England's support for mortgages under a scheme for banks called Funding for Lending (FLS) would also have an impact in slowing the market down. | Rics said the decision to end the Bank of England's support for mortgages under a scheme for banks called Funding for Lending (FLS) would also have an impact in slowing the market down. |
But it believes mortgages are likely to remain relatively cheap for a while to come. | But it believes mortgages are likely to remain relatively cheap for a while to come. |
"The improvement in wholesale and retail funding markets may mean the impact on mortgages is relatively limited," said Mr Rubinsohn. | "The improvement in wholesale and retail funding markets may mean the impact on mortgages is relatively limited," said Mr Rubinsohn. |
The OBR expects house prices to rise by 5.2% in 2014, and 7.2% in 2015. | The OBR expects house prices to rise by 5.2% in 2014, and 7.2% in 2015. |
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