Another month of restrained house price growth has been reported by Nationwide over September, with a decrease in annual property price inflation from 18.9% in August to 17.8% in September. According to the mortgage lender, whose figures take seasonal trends into account, prices went up in September by just 0.2%, compared with a rise of 0.1% in August and a rise of 2.1% in July. Nationwide's average UK property price now stands at £153,727. Wales, the North and the North West once again have the fastest growing markets. However, according to this research, these could be the most exposed markets in the event of a slowdown: 'In our view these three regions, where rapid price growth has been in evidence over the last few years, are the most stretched and, therefore, the most vulnerable to a significant slowdown,' said Alex Bannister, Nationwide's Group Economist. In spite of the reduced growth, Nationwide expects prices to grow, on average, by 0.8% per month for the rest of the year, and does not predict a property market crash: 'Given the positive outlook for the economy and the jobs market in particular, we expect the market to tread water, involving subdued price growth, rather than experience a sustained widespread slump in prices,' said Mr Bannister.
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'I have lost a treasure, such a sister, such a friend as never can have been surpassed': Inside Jane Austen's Winchester home, the house where she penned her final words and drew her final breathJane Austen spent the last days of her life in rented lodgings in Winchester, Hampshire. Adam Rattray describes the remarkable recent discoveries made about the house in which she died.
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An utterly charming island home in Scotland with gardens so beautiful they made the cover of Country LifeAn Cala on the Isle of Seil has a fascinating history that is only enhanced by its amazing setting.
