Thinking of moving in 2022?
Have you been thinking of moving home, but have been putting it off until 2022?
Well! Now 2022 has arrived, lots of home-hunters are starting to put their moving plans into action.
So, to help you get a head-start on what to expect, Rightmove has put together some information on how the new year housing market is shaping up so far.
Signs of a ‘closer to normal’ market in 2022
The kind of frenzied market we’ve seen in the last 18 months happens only a few times in most homeowners’ buying and selling lifetimes, says Rightmove property expert Tim Bannister.
This has been made even more intense alongside the even rarer event of a global pandemic, which has pushed homes higher up most people’s priorities.
But as the new year starts, experts including Rightmove, expect to see a ‘closer to normal’ housing market in 2022 — albeit still a busy one.
Property valuation requests from homeowners have increased, which is a great sign there will be more homes available to buy.
And while Covid continues to have an ever-changing impact, we’re starting to see signs of a return to traditional norms, including seasonal fluctuations in house prices.
We’re used to seeing a dip in asking prices in December, as home-hunters put moving plans off until after the Christmas festivities.
And this December, the national average asking price of a home was £340,167, which is down 0.7 percent (-£2,234) on the month, compared to a relatively similar fall this time a year ago.
You can view Rightmove’s House Price Index for December HERE.
2022 will remain a strong sellers’ market
If you do decide to sell your home in the new year, your chances of a finding a buyer are very high, as we’re still seeing huge levels of buyer demand, and not enough homes available to buy.
Despite December’s seasonal price fall, we expect asking prices to rise by another 5 percent in 2022.
However, it’s really important to set the right asking price. Despite high demand, buyers will have limits to what they can afford or are prepared to pay.
Good local estate agents – like us here at Samuel Wood, can help, as we can share their evidence for setting and justifying the right asking price.
More properties for buyers to choose from
If you’ve already started the search for your next home, you’ll know how few properties there are currently for sale, which means you’ll be facing stiff competition from other buyers.
The good news is there should be some fresh property choice coming to market in 2022, as ‘new year resolution sellers’ look to take advantage of the traditional Boxing Day bounce in buyer demand.
In fact, we’ve seen property valuation requests on Rightmove jump by 19 percent compared to this time a year ago, which is a strong sign that previously hesitant sellers are now looking to make a move.
The continued importance of being a ‘power-buyer’
To be in pole-position in the race for the best property, you need to have greater buying power than the rest of the field.
So, if you’re a seller looking to buy again, the best way to get yourself into pole position to secure your next home is to secure a buyer for your property first.
Proving your access to funds, including a mortgage agreement in principle, is also becoming a must-have, not only to get higher up the buyer pecking order, but also to speed up the processs.
At Samuel Wood, if you are looking to move house in 2022, we are ready when you are!