UK House Prices Situation: Strong

UK House Prices Forecast: Will stay high

The housing market is continuing to look strong, according to a raft of reports out this week. The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RCIS) reported that their sales to stock ratio, an alternative measure of housing market strength, rose from +34.9 in the three months to August to +45.1 in September - the highest level since October 2002.

In a separate report, the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) reported a drop in the average UK house price of 3.42% from August to September. Despite this, they believe the market is strong, with the ratio of buyers to sellers remaining stable, and demand outstripping supply.

In a final twist, the Stroud & Swindon Building Society released research showing that if the present rate of house price inflation continues, the average homeowner will be liable for inheritance tax (IHT) in just eight years. The IHT threshold has increased by an average of 3% per annum over the last decade, in stark contrast to house price inflation, which has averaged 9.5%.