Nationwide reports that UK house prices rose by 2.1% in April from the month before, the biggest jump since February 2004. Prices have gained 7.1% in the past year. The upswing should keep going, says Andrew Wishart of Capital Economics. Survey data from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors shows strong sales and limited stock for sale. Web searches for homes hit a six-year high last month.
This has been a boom like no other, says Roger Bootle in The Daily Telegraph. House prices fell in real terms during the last four UK recessions. This time they have risen thanks to extensive government support and ultra-low interest rates. The ratio of average house prices to average earnings is now close to its 2007 high. Does that mean we are heading for a crash? Probably not. Households are finding mortgage payments manageable thanks to rock-bottom interest rates. A property slump looks unlikely before the Bank of England tightens the monetary screws.
Subscribe to MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE
Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
-
8 of the best properties for sale with communal gardensThe best properties for sale with access to communal gardens – from an apartment in a listed building opposite London’s Hyde Park, to a wing of a mansion with access to 180 acres of parkland in Henley-upon-Thames
-
The five insurance policies you should haveSome insurance cover will be more important than others. We look at five insurance policies you may need to have to make sure you aren’t caught out in an emergency
-
8 of the best properties for sale with communal gardens
The best properties for sale with access to communal gardens – from an apartment in a listed building opposite London’s Hyde Park, to a wing of a mansion with access to 180 acres of parkland in Henley-upon-Thames
-
The British railway industry is in rude health – here's why investors should jump aboardThe railway industry has bounced back from the devastating impact of the pandemic and is entering a new phase of development – and profitability
-
8 of the best houses for sale with outdoor swimming poolsThe best houses for sale with outdoor swimming pools – from a family house in Wimbledon Village, London, to a 1640s mansion in Derbyshire with a heated swimming pool in the grounds
-
Infrastructure investing: a haven of stable growth amid market turmoilFrom booming construction in emerging markets to digital and green transitions, the infrastructure sector offers security, returns and long-term opportunities
-
The costly myth of “sell in May”Opinion May 2025's strong returns for US stocks have once again shown that putting too much weight on seasonal patterns will only make investors poorer, says Max King
-
8 of the best houses for sale for around £2 millionThe best houses for sale for around £2 million – from a houseboat moored at London’s Prospect Quay, Wandsworth, to a 15th-century chateau in Pas-de-Calais, France
-
Who’s driving Tesla?As Elon Musk steps back from government with his eyes on the stars, investors ask if he’s still behind the wheel at his electric-car maker.
-
How to bid for luxury property at auctionMore people are buying luxury property at auction – but think carefully before you bid, says David Prosser
