UK house prices hit $365,000 after 8.1% increase in a year

Bloomberg

A shortage of homes for sale and a buoyant labour market are expected to underpin the UK housing market as consumers come under pressure from soaring
inflation and higher interest rates, according to Halifax.
The average cost of a home rises 0.9% in October to a record $365,000, the mortgage lender said. That left values 8.1% higher than a year earlier, the fastest annual gain since June.
Demand for property remained buoyant last month, despite ending of a temporary tax cut on purchases introduced by the government last year. That suggests other factors are playing a significant role, including strong employment and a pandemic-driven search for larger homes away from urban centers.
Halifax cautioned that the market is set to lose some momentum, however, as households grapple with a sharp squeeze on living standards.
“With the Bank of England expected to react to building inflation risks by raising rates as soon as next month, and further such rises predicted over the next 12 months, we do expect house buying demand to cool in the months ahead as borrowing costs increase,” said Russell Galley, managing director at Halifax. “That said, borrowing costs will still be low by historical standards, and raising a deposit is likely to remain the primary obstacle for many. The impact on property prices may also be tempered by the continued limited supply of properties available on the market.”
The central bank warned that inflation is set to reach 5% next April and that interest rates will have to rise in coming months, piling pressure on family budgets. Some lenders have already increased mortgage costs.
House-price inflation for first time buyers has reached a five-month high of 9.2%, overtaking the equivalent measure for homeowners, Halifax said.