Southampton vs Basingstoke – Clash of the Property Market Titans

Many landlords have been asking me my thoughts on the Southampton property market recently, and in particular, what is happening to property values. My calculations show property values in Southampton quite interestingly grew in the month of September by 1.8%.  When one looks at the annual growth, Southampton values are 6.4% higher (when comparing Sept 14 to Sept 15), impressive when you consider the annual growth of property values was only 4.8% per annum in July.  On the other hand, there are signs that the fundamental growth of property values in Southampton has now peaked, despite those average property values being below levels recorded in 2007 (just before the 2008 crash).

Whilst the Southampton headline rate appears to be better, i.e. the year on year (Sept 14 to Sept 15) growth rate of 6.4% is obviously better than the 4.8% in July 14 to July 15), this impressive rise of Southampton property values masks the underlying truth in what is really happening to local property values in the City.  Throughout 2015, property values have been yo-yo like on a month by month basis, being quite volatile in nature.  For example,

·        September 2015    1.8% rise

·        August 2015            1.1% rise

·        July 2015                  0.3% rise

·        June 2015                1.3% rise

·        May 2015                 0.6% drop

·        April 2015                1.1% rise

·        March 2015             0.2% drop

This is in part due to seasonal factors, as well as mortgage approvals increasing over June and July and then falling by over 15% in August, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML).

The outlook for the Southampton property market remains positive against the foundations of low mortgage rates and growing consumer confidence. However, I do have to question the recent CML mortgage data and whether that raises issues over whether the rate of growth since the Tory’s were re-elected in the early summer can continue? However, on a positive note, Southampton property values are still running ahead of salaries and average property values are 2.8% below the levels recorded in 2007.

Talking to fellow property professionals in the city, demand for property has been showing signs of moderating in the final few months of 2015, which in turn will lead to a slight slowdown in the pace of house price growth in the run up to the festive season. You see, it is really important not to read too much into one month’s (September’s) headline figures.

Readers might be interested to note that before the 2008 property crash, all the UK region’s housing markets tended to move up and down in tandem like the Southampton Synchronised Swimming team at the Quays Swimming and Diving Complex Swimming Pool!  Since then though, the Greater London property market took off like a rocket in 2009/10, whilst the rest of the UK only really started to grow in 2012/13, and even then that growth was a lot more modest than the Capital’s.  Looking closer to home, it can even be different in neighbouring towns, areas and cities, so whilst Southampton property values are 6.4% higher than a year ago (as mentioned above), Basingstoke property values are 7.1% higher than a year ago.

I cannot stress enough the importance of doing your homework.  On this blog you will see similar articles to this about the Southampton property market and what I consider to be the best buy to let deals around at any one time in the City, irrespective of which agent it is on the market with.  If you haven’t looked through the blog and you are interested in the local property market in Southampton….. you are missing out!