The rise in house prices regains momentum says Nationwide. After falls for the previous three months, prices rose 1.1% month-on-month in June.

Smallest gap on record
Nationwide House Price Index for June records growth in annual house prices to 3.1%.
The reduction in the gap in house price growth between the strongest and weakest performing regions produces the smallest gap on record.

Robert Gardner, Nationwide’s Chief Economist said:
“UK house prices rebounded in June, with prices rising by 1.1% during the month, erasing the decline recorded over the previous three months. However, monthly growth rates can
be volatile, even after accounting for seasonal effects. “The annual rate of house price growth, which gives a better sense of the underlying trend, continues to point to modest price gains. Annual house price growth edged up to 3.1% from 2.1% in May. In effect, after two sluggish months, annual price growth has returned to the 3-6% range that had been prevailing since early 2015.

Shift in price trends
“There has been a shift in regional house price trends. Price growth in the South of England has moderated, converging with the rates prevailing in the rest of the country. In Q2 the
gap between the strongest performing region (East Anglia, which saw 5% annual growth) and the weakest (the North, with 1% growth) was the smallest on record, based on data going back to 1974. Nevertheless, when viewed in levels, the price gap between regions remains extremely wide. “London saw a particularly marked slowdown, with annual price growth moderating to just 1.2% – the second slowest pace of the 13 UK regions and the weakest pace of growth in the capital since 2012.

Softening of new buyer enquiries
“The emerging squeeze on household incomes appears to be exerting a drag on housing market activity in recent months. The number of mortgages approved for house purchase has slowed a little in recent months and surveyors report that new buyer enquiries have softened. “At this point it is unclear whether the increase in house price growth in June reflects strengthening demand conditions on the back of healthy gains in employment and continued low mortgage rates, or whether the lack of homes on the market is the more important factor. While survey data suggests that new buyer enquiries have softened, it also indicates that this has been matched by a decline in new instructions. Indeed, the number of properties on estate agents’ books remains close to all-time lows.

Housing market trends
“Given the ongoing uncertainties around the UK’s future trading arrangements, the economic outlook remains unusually uncertain, and housing market trends will depend crucially on developments in the wider economy. “Nevertheless, in our view, household spending is likely to
slow in the quarters ahead, along with the wider economy, as rising inflation squeezes household budgets. This, together with ongoing housing affordability pressures in key parts of
the country, is likely to exert a drag on housing market activity and house price growth in the quarters ahead. “However, the subdued level of building activity and the shortage of properties on the market are likely to provide support for prices. As a result, we continue to believe that a
small increase in house prices of around 2% is likely over the course of 2017 as a whole.”

Comparing prices to their peaks in 2007
The convergence in regional growth rates may be impressive, but price levels still show significant disparities. This is prevalent when comparing current prices to their peaks in 2007. Prices in London are circa 55% above 2007 levels, but those in the North West, Yorkshire & Humberside and North are still lower than their 2007 peaks.