UK listing market set for further growth due to stable election result

House prices in the UK, especially the prime listing market in London, are set to rise on the back of the Conservative win at the general election, according to listing experts.

London is likely to see sales surge as people who put off buying, particularly overseas buyers, now go ahead and make a decision with the possibility of a mansion tax evaporated.

Indeed, according to Edward Heaton, of Heaton and Partners listing search agency prime country house prices could rise by as much as 10% within weeks. ‘There will be bun fights in the next few weeks for the best houses which come to the market as confidence in the top-end of the regional market returns,’ he said.

‘For many operating in the prime listing market, there is a palpable sense of relief at the election outcome as there were some genuine concerns about the possible impact of mansion tax tied in with the attack on non-doms proposed by Labour,’ he added.

The result will bring stability to the markets, according to Michelle van Vuuren, managing director of residential development at Sotheby’s International Realty UK. The firm is already getting calls from would be international buyers.

‘The removal of the uncertainty that has clouded the last year of the coalition will allow developers to plan confidently for the medium term with a consistent economic policy.  Having said that, we do hope to see the Tories come good on their annual pledge of 200,000 new homes and freeing up brownfield sites for development,’ she said.

‘Increasing the supply of homes is the only way to truly overcome the hurdles that the housing market places for the majority of buyers. At the top end, for the next five years at least, a cessation of the clamour for a mansion tax will see a number of transactions that have stalled to come back on line as certitude creeps back into the market. It is going to be an exciting time to be in the London market,’ she added.

‘Andrew Ellinas, director of central and north west London agency Sandfords, believes that confidence will return quickly and it is likely that there will be a significant late spring bounce in activity as those who have held back start to act.

‘London has established itself around the world as a safe and thriving place to invest and increased confidence will once again be restored and with that see the return of overseas investors. It has felt like the market was becalmed and now will steam ahead once again, with London prices that have been subdued steadily rising throughout the second half of the year,’ he pointed out.

‘My advice to those who have been thinking about selling, but awaiting political certainty, is to make a move now and beat the rush. The market has been challenged most recently by a lack of stock, but this is likely to change quite swiftly now, creating more competition for vendors. Take advantage whilst conditions are most favourable,’ he added.

Peter Rollings, chief executive officer of Marsh & Parsons, said that buyers, sellers and the listing industry as a whole can again plan for the future with confidence. ‘The top end market will be breathing a huge sigh of relief that £2 million plus listings won’t be penalised by a mansion tax, a levy that would have stifled activity in the capital and across the South East,’ he explained.

‘Any such tax could also have had implications on lower rungs of the listing ladder too, so it is not just wealthier homeowners who should be counting their blessings. The post-election feel good factor could kick in immediately and 2015 may prove to be a reversed version of 2014 in starting slowly and finishing strongly,’ he added.

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Source: Property News Spain