The findings are in contrast to the recent evidence of a slowdown in the growth of house prices.
Zoopla highlighted in the report that the majority of homeowners anticipated a rise in property prices in their area by the summer. Although the figure is slightly down from the 92% who felt the same a year ago, it is consistent with figures from the last quarter as market confidence stabilises.
The highest proportion of optimistic homeowners is in the East of England, where 91% are anticipating property prices to grow in the first six months of the year. In the North East people are slightly less optimistic with 82% expecting house price growth between now and June.
Those who own homes in the capital are expecting the fastest rise in house prices. On average, Londoners are anticipating 9% boost in values by the summer. Homeowners in the north are more cautious, with those in Yorkshire & the Humber and the North West predicting a more modest 5% uplift in property prices over the next six months.
Recent indications of cooling house price growth have left an increasing proportion of homeowners worried about values dropping. Currently, 7% of property owners expect prices to falling during the first half of this year, an increase from just 3% at the start of 2014.
Lawrence Hall of Zoopla.co.uk commented:
“The UK property market appeared to have changed its spots towards the end of 2014 – and the more sluggish pace of growth seen in the latter months was a very different beast to the lively price hikes of the spring. But homeowners don’t appear to have been seriously spooked, with consumer confidence standing firm. Encouraged by the vast gains they’ve already experienced this year, homeowners still expect to benefit from significant house price growth in the first half of 2015.”
