Despite the fact that UK property market has been a volatile over the last three years, and indeed according to many is on the verge of a further downward spiral, the truth is that in the longer term the UK property market is likely to remain buoyant and in demand. When you take into account the ever-growing population of the UK and the reluctance of many local authorities to build further council houses it seems almost inevitable that demand for existing houses and new properties will grow.
The problem for the UK authorities is that the UK’s is a relatively small island and due to significant underinvestment on new properties in the past there is still a long-term imbalance between supply and demand. Even those who argue that UK property is too expensive for first-time buyers have to admit that the more people who rent in the UK the more demand properties.
A report yesterday suggested that the UK is fast becoming a property rental economy rather than a property purchase economy, something which has been in place for many decades. There are now great concerns that first-time buyers are effectively being priced out that the UK property market due to an increase in property prices and a lack of liquidity in the mortgage market. So how can first-time buyers climb onto the property ladder?
There are many different options available for first-time buyers although unfortunately they either mean years of saving or some form of shared equity with a housing association or other third party. At this point in time even the average UK house price is well beyond the means of many first-time buyers and even if property prices come down, there may be a reduction in liquidity in the mortgage market which will again block their route to entry.
It is ironic that the UK situation has now turned full circle in direct contrast to the US situation where many people had preferred to rent rather than buy.