The recruitment activity in the GCC construction sector has begun showing strong signs of confidence buoyed by developments in Abu Dhabi and Qatar markets. However, more than 80 per cent of hiring activity is happening within the Saudi market, said an ex
LONDON The slow start to 2021 for Britain’s housing market stretched into February, before finance minister Rishi Sunak announced new measures that could…
BBC News
By Douglas Fraser
Published
image copyrightPA Media
image captionScotland had the weakest figures for new buyer inquiries of any nation or region in the UK
The market for homes has slowed further with lockdown, and more in Scotland than other parts of the UK.
The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) is reporting that interest from potential buyers was down in February.
The number of properties being put on the market was also down, for the fourth consecutive month.
More surveyors reported prices rising than falling.
RICS expects the easing of Covid restrictions in coming months to bring more activity back.
UK House Price Balance Rises; Sales Market Activity Remains Weak: RICS
LONDON (dpa-AFX) - British house prices increased again in February but the current lockdown restrictions weighed on the sales market activity, the Residential Market Survey from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, or RICS, showed on Thursday.
The house price balance rose to 52 percent in February from 49 percent in the previous month. Further, twelve month price expectations picked up, with the net balance climbing to +46 percent from +30 percent in January.
The net balance for new buyer enquiries came in at -9 percent in February versus -29 percent in January.
A shortfall in the number of homes coming up for sale remains a major stumbling block for the housing market, economists at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors have warned.
While the Chancellor s Budget measures, including the extension of the stamp duty holiday until the end of June, will give the sector a boost, stock levels are low and prices continue to rise, it said.
More estate agents now think property prices will continue to rise over the year ahead, amid the easing of lockdown restrictions and opening up of the economy.
However, lockdown restrictions put sellers off putting their homes up for sale in February, the Rics said in its latest findings published today.