Property Values rise by 1.5% in Flitwick

Property Values rise by 1.5% in Flitwick 

Property values in Flitwick rose by 1.5 % in March. This follows several months of sluggish activity in the Flitwick property market in the run up to the Election, putting the average price of a property in Flitwick at £247,000, 9.5% higher than in March 2014. 

Interestingly, the Council of Mortgage Lenders and Estate Agent trade bodies over the last few months have reported seeing a fall in mortgage lending and enquiries from prospective homebuyers. This is important because it comes amid an overall fall in housing market activity in Flitwick. Data from the Land Registry said completed house sales in Flitwick in the three months to January 2015, (the most up-to-date figures available) fell by 8.74% compared to the same three month period up to January 2014.

However, I believe that the slowdown in property sales in Flitwick is supporting Flitwick property values, as there is a shortage of houses coming onto the market. Even though in the whole of the first Quarter of 2015, Flitwick property value increases may seem subdued when compared to 2014, let us remember, property values are still rising well above the level of inflation. 

As I have said many times before, the population in Flitwick is growing at a much higher rate than the number of properties being built. This increasing demand for a roof over people’s head, which is outpacing the supply of new houses being built in Flitwick, is creating a severe imbalance in the Flitwick (in fact the whole of UK’s) housing market, thus making homeownership an ever increasingly distant dream for many of Flitwick’s potential first time buyers.

In fact, I still maintain the view that house prices are likely to rise by around 3 to 5% in Flitwick in 2015, even after taking into account this blip at start of the year. The reason being is that the rise reflects both strong economic conditions and steady market conditions with (and this is the most important factor) very low numbers of properties on the market. 

Many Buy to Let landlords know that investing in the Flitwick property market is a long-term strategy of 10, 20 even 30 years. Governments come and go, but unless Central Bedfordshire Council start to build hundreds of new properties a year to make up for the shocking lack of supply, Flitwick people will always want a roof over their head, and irrespective of which party is in power, if there aren’t any council houses and they can’t (or are unable to buy), a demand for rental properties will always remain.

As my existing Flitwick landlord clients will testify, whether you manage your property yourself, or another Flitwick agent manages your properties, everyone is always made to feel welcome when they pop in for a coffee at our offices in Flitwick to discuss anything to do with the Flitwick property market, and how Flitwick compares with its closest rival towns. I don’t bite, I don’t do hard sell, I will just give you my honest and straight talking opinion. 

Feel free to call me on 01525 838848 or email graham@1st-house-lettings.co.uk, and we can arrange a chat over a coffee at my office in The Rufus Centre, Steppingley Road, Flitwick, MK45 1AH - located near the leisure centre and new development.