With Maidstone Annual Property Values 5.9% Higher, This is My 2018 Forecast

 
Looking at the newspapers between Christmas and New Year, it seemed that this year’s sport in the column inches was to predict the future of the British housing market. So to go along with that these are my thoughts on the Maidstone property market.

With the average 5-year fixed rate mortgage at 1.98% (down from 3.47% in 2014) and 2-year fixed rate at 1.47% (down from 2.37% in 2014), mortgage interest rates offered by lenders are at an all-time low (even with the slight increase on the Bank of England base rate a few months ago). Added to this, there has been a low unemployment rate of 4% in Maidstone, which has contributed to maintain a decent level demand for property in Maidstone in 2017 (interestingly – an impressive 2,204 Maidstone properties were sold in last 12 months), whilst finally, the number of properties for sale in the town has remained limited, thus providing support for Maidstone house prices, meaning …

Maidstone Property Values are 5.9% higher than a year ago

However, moving into 2018, there will be greater pressures on people’s incomes as inflation starts to eat into real wage packet growth, which will wield a snowballing strain on consumer confidence. Interestingly though, information from the website Rightmove suggested over a third of property it had on its books in October and November had their asking prices reduced, the highest percentage of asking price reductions in the same time frame, over five years. Still, a lot of that could have been house-sellers being overly optimistic with their initial pricing.


In terms of what will happen to Maidstone property values in the next 12 months, a lot will be contingent on the type of Brexit we have and the impact on the whole of the UK economy. A lot of people will talk about the Central London property market in the coming year, and if the banking and finance sectors are negatively affected with a poor Brexit deal, then the London market is likely to see more of an impact.


Nevertheless, the bottom line is Maidstone homeowners and Maidstone landlords should be aware of what happens in the rollercoaster housing market of Central London, but not panic if prices do drop suddenly there in 2018. Over the last 8 years, the Central London property market has been in a world of its own (Central London house prices have grown by 89.6% in those last 8 years, whilst in Maidstone, they have only risen by 48.1%). So we might see a heavy correction in the Capital, whilst more locally, something a little more subdued.


Hindsight is always better than foresight and predicting anything economic is all well and good when you know what is around the corner. At least we have the Brexit divorce settlement sorted and, as the UK economy and the UK housing market are intertwined, it all depends on how we deal as a Country with the Brexit issue. However, we have been through the global financial crisis reasonably intact ... I am sure we can get through this together as well?

Oh, and house prices in Maidstone over the next 12 months? I believe they will end up between 0.2% lower and 1.5% higher, although it will probably be a bumpy ride to get to those sorts of figures.

If you would like to read more articles on my thoughts on the Maidstone property Market – please visit the Maidstone Property Market Blog http://maidstonepropertyblog.blogspot.co.uk

On line Estate Agents have been accused of publishing incorrect property sales figures.

Stockbrokers -Jeffries said Purple Bricks sales are just over 51 % of instructions. Purple Bricks state their figures are 78% . Jeffries called selling with purple Bricks is a" £1000 coin toss”. This is because they charge up front and not on results like traditional high street agents. You pay whether you have sold or not ! Seekers sales are 90 % of instructions and you pay on results !

Maidstone Apartments are 8.5% more affordable than 10 years ago

My research shows that certain types of Maidstone property are more affordable today than before the 2007 credit crunch.

Roll the clock back to 2007 just before the credit crunch hit which saw Maidstone property values plummet like a lead balloon and the Maidstone property market had reached a peak with the prices for Maidstone property hitting the highest level they had ever reached.  Between 2008 and 2010, Maidstone property values lay in the doldrums and only started to rise in 2011, albeit quite slowly to begin with.

Nevertheless, even though property values have now passed those 2007 peaks, my research indicates that Maidstone property, especially flats/apartments, are now more affordable than they were before the 2008 credit crunch.

Back in 2007, the average value of a Maidstone flat/apartment stood at £164,258 and today, it stands at £193,036, a rise of £28,778 or 17.5%.

However, between 2007 and today, we have experienced inflation (as measured by the Government’s Consumer Price Index) of 25.97% meaning that in real spending power terms Maidstone apartments are 8.5% more affordable than in 2007. Looking at it another way, if the average Maidstone apartment (valued at £164,258 in 2007) had risen by 25.97% inflation over those 10 years, today it would be worth £206,916 (instead of the current £193,036).

The point I’m trying to get across is that Maidstone property is more affordable than many people think.  Maidstone first time buyers can get on the ladder as 95% mortgages have been readily available to first-time buyers since 2010.

It really comes down to a choice and if Maidstone first-time buyers can get over the hurdle of saving the 5% deposit for the mortgage on the property – they will be on to a winner, especially with these ultralow mortgage interest rates, a mortgage can be between 10% and 30% cheaper per month than the rental payments on the same house.

So why aren’t Maidstone 20 somethings buying their own home?

Back in the 1960’s and 1970’s, renting was considered the poor man’s choice in Maidstone (and the rest of the Country) a huge stigma was attached to renting. However, over the last 10 years as a country, we have done a complete U-turn in our attitude towards renting - meaning that many people find renting a better option and a lifestyle choice.

Saving the 5% deposit means going without many luxuries in life (such as holidays, every satellite movie and sports channel, socialising or the latest mobile phone – even if only in the short term) therefore instead of saving every last pound to put towards a mortgage deposit Maidstone 20 somethings choose to rent.

There is no denying the simple fact that over the next 10 to 15 years, the people who choose to rent instead of buy in Maidstone will continue to rise.

Therefore, everyone in Maidstone has a responsibility to ensure that an adequate number of quality Maidstone rental properties are safeguarded to meet those future demands. Interestingly, what I have noticed though over the last few years are the expectations of Maidstone tenants on the finish and specification of their Maidstone rental property.

I have perceived that in the past, what a tenant wanted from their Maidstone rental property was moderately unassuming because renting a property was only a short-term choice to fill the gap before jumping on the property ladder. Before the millennium, wood chip wall paper and twenty-year-old kitchen and bathroom suites were considered the norm.

However, Maidstone tenants’ expectations are becoming more discerning as each year goes by.  I have also noticed the length of time a tenant remains in their Maidstone property is becoming longer (and this was backed up recently by stats from a Government Report), although I have noticed a tendency for many Maidstone landlords not to keep the rental payments at the going market rates  - maybe a topic for a future article for my blog?

The bottom line is this … Maidstone landlords will need to be more conscious of tenants needs and wants and consider their financial planning for future enhancements to their Maidstone rental properties over the next five, ten and twenty years -  e.g. decorating, kitchen and bathroom suites etc etc ..

The present-day and future situation of the Maidstone private rental property market is important, and I frequently liaise with Maidstone buy-to-let investors looking to spread their Maidstone rental-portfolios. I also enjoy meeting and working alongside Maidstone first time landlords, to ensure they can navigate through the minefield of rental voids, the important balance of capital growth and yield and ensuring the property is returned back to you in the future in the best possible condition.