James Greenwood of Stacks Property Search, has this to say: “We expect 2019 to be a good year for the property market as a decision of some sort is made on Brexit. There are an estimated 6m households living in the wrong property and the country needs to get moving. Only an end to the indecision that we have been suffering since June ’16 can free up the market. And whatever the outcome, we will certainly see a significant increase in activity.
More supply will be matched by more demand and I don’t expect us to see any dramatic rise or fall in prices across the board.
Rural properties with acres have been struggling in recent years, but we are beginning to see an increase in appetite for property of this kind, and I expect this sector of the market to pick up significantly in 2019.
Town houses in good market towns will continue to be in strong demand and prices will show steady increases.
The recent interest rate rise has had little impact on prices or activity levels, and we don’t anticipate any further rises having a great effect on the market.
We have seen buyers and owners increasingly prepared to take on significant work to make houses more efficient, and 2019 will see more eco retro-fitting and future-proofing. Properties that are inefficient will become harder to sell as buyers pay more attention to the running and maintenance costs they are taking on.
Isolated houses at the end of mile long rutted drives will be hard to sell, but competition will be high for immaculate town houses in small cities and market towns.
Cottages in tourist areas will be snapped up by investors jumping on the Airbnb bandwagon in anticipation of an increase in UK residents holidaying at home due to falling pound, airport delays, and Brexit fallout.”
Bill Spreckley of Stacks Property Search says: “The price of the humble bungalow will continue its march upwards as it achieves rarity value. More and more have been knocked down and replaced with four bedroom houses, so those that are left carry a significant premium.”
Sally Fraser of Stacks Property Search says: “Well located individual plots of land, derelict properties and refurbishment projects will be snapped up as idealistic buyers who want to create their own customised space, and add value to their investment.”
