Mortgage and Property Investment Magazine Logo

Spring Market to Remain Challenging for London House Hunters

by | Mar 19, 2023

Share this article

Chestertons’ latest review of London’s property market suggests that spring may not see the typical seasonal increase in properties being put up for sale that many buyers had hoped for. Whilst buyers remained undeterred in February with a 3% uplift in viewings compared to the same month last year, there were 17% fewer sellers entering the market. This, in turn, is leading to a limited number of properties coming onto the market in March and April leaving many house hunters frustrated.

Chestertons advises that one reason behind the decrease in homeowners wanting to sell up has been the re-introduction of more competitive mortgage products.

Matthew Thompson, Chestertons’ Head of Sales, explains: “The London property market slowed down at the end of last year in reaction to the Bank of England increasing interest rates. These rates have started to come down since the beginning of 2023 and we are seeing stronger competition amongst mortgage lenders which means that rates are now only slightly higher than before the September 2022 mini-budget.

 
 

“This has relieved some pressure on households with fixed-rate mortgages coming up for renewal. As a result, some homeowners who had considered downsizing to lower costs may have been able to get another fixed-rate mortgage at an affordable rate – meaning they are under less pressure to sell.”

Chestertons’ branches confirm that London property prices will remain relatively strong throughout spring with sellers still achieving firm and fair prices for their assets. In its 2023 market forecast, Chestertons predicted that properties will not actually see the widely anticipated drop in values this year. Instead, the agency advised that prices across England and Wales will drop by around 1% compared to a drop of 3.2% in London. The capital will then lead the recovery in 2024, with prices rebounding by 9%, compared to a smaller increase nationally.

Share this article

Related articles

Sign up to the Mortgage and Property Newsletter

Trending articles

IFA Talk logo

IFA Talk Mortage and Property is the new addition to the IFA Talk podcast family, where we discuss the latest topics relevant to Mortgage and Property professionals.

IFA Talk Mortgage & Property Podcast

x