NAEA Propertymark Housing Report: Housing market picking up following lockdown

NAEA Propertymark’s May Housing Report has been published, with data collected after housing market reopened on 13 May following the lockdown.

Headlines:
  • As the housing market reopened; estate agents recorded an average of five sales per branch
  • Demand for housing was seven per cent higher than recorded in February
  • NAEA Propertymark issues May Housing Report

This data was collected after the housing market reopened on 13 May for the period covering 13 to 31 May following the lockdown. Estate agents followed government guidance and were unable to operate between 24 March and 13 May.

Sales agreed 

  • The average number of sales agreed per estate agent branch stood at five in May, a decrease of almost half (44 per cent) compared to February when there were nine sales recorded per branch.

Demand for housing

  • In May, the number of house hunters registered per estate agent branch rose by seven per cent, increasing from 322 in February to 344 in May.
  • Year-on-year, housing demand is up by 12 per cent, rising from 307 in May 2019 as prospective buyers resumed their home buying plans.

Supply of available properties 

  • The number of properties available per member branch stood at 35 in May.
  • Year-on-year, the supply of housing fell by 15 per cent from 41 per branch in May 2019.

Sales to FTBs 

  • The number of sales made to FTBs stood at 32 per cent in May, a rise from 22 per cent recorded in February.

What properties sold for

  • In May, more than two in three (70 per cent) properties sold for less than the original asking price.
  • 61 per centof estate agents have seen an increase in the number of sales falling through since the Government imposed a lockdown.

 

Mark Hayward, Chief Executive, NAEA Propertymark, comments:

“It’s great to see the market up and running again, bringing some much-needed confidence back. With estate agents following new socially distanced protocols, and the demand for viewings soaring, we are set for an exciting summer.

“It will be interesting in the coming months to see if the lifestyle changes triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic will have an impact on house sale locations, especially in and around commuter towns.”

 

Kindly shared by NAEA Propertymark