As I have mentioned a number of times in previous articles of this blog, with not enough new-build properties being built in Loughborough
and the surrounding area to keep up with demand for homes to live in - be that
tenants or homebuyers - it’s good to know that more Loughborough home sellers are
putting their properties on to the market than a year ago.
At the start of 2007 there were 580 properties for sale in
Loughborough but by March 2008, when the credit crunch was really beginning to
bite, that number had risen to 1,167 properties on the market at a time when
demand was at an all-time low, thus creating an imbalance in the local property
market.
Basic economics dictates that if there is too much supply of
something and demand is poor, as it was in the Credit Crunch years of
2008/9), prices will drop. In fact, house prices dropped between 15% and 20%
depending on the type of Loughborough property between the end of 2007 and
Spring 2009.
However, over the last five years, we have seen a steady
decrease in the supply of properties coming onto the market for sale and steady
demand, meaning Loughborough property prices have remained robust. A stable housing market is one of the
foundations of a successful British economy, as it’s all about getting the
healthy balance of buyer demand with a good supply of properties. Nevertheless,
if you had asked me a couple of years ago, I would have said we were beginning
to see there was in fact NOT enough properties coming on to the market for sale - meaning in certain sectors of the Loughborough property market, house prices
were overheating because of this lack of supply.
So, it is pleasing to note, looking at the recent numbers that there are 8% more properties for sale in Loughborough today
than a year ago. There were 313 properties for sale 12 months ago, and today
that stands at 337. It doesn’t sound a lot, yet this is a small step in the
right direction to a more stable property market.
Even better news, since the Chancellor announced the stamp
duty rule changes for first time buyers (FTB), my fellow agents in Loughborough
say that the number of FTB’s registering on the majority of agent’s books has
increased year on year. That has still to follow through into more FTB’s buying
their first home, however, with the heightened levels of confidence being
demonstrated by both Loughborough house sellers and potential house buyers, I
do foresee the Loughborough Property Market will show steady yet sustained
improvement during the first half of 2018.
What does this mean for Loughborough landlords or those
considering dipping their toe into the buy to let market for the first time?
Landlords will need to keep improving their properties to ensure they get the
best tenants. It is true that demand amongst FTB’s is increasing, albeit from a
low base. Even with the new landlord tax rules, buy to let in Loughborough
still looks a good investment, providing Loughborough landlords with a good
income at a time of low interest rates and a roller coaster stock market.
If you are thinking of investing in bricks and mortar in
Loughborough, it is important to do things correctly as making money won’t be
as easy as it has been over the last twenty years. With a greater number of properties on the
market comes greater choice. Don’t buy the first thing you see, buy with
your head as well as your heart.
If you are interested in talking about this or potential investments, or would like a second opinion on any other properties you have seen, please feel free to call me on 01509 260777 or email me.
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