March experienced a slow month by many experts’ standards in regard to UK housing market fundamentals. Whether it was rising inflation overall or just a lull in the thick of winter, a slowdown took place in the month of March which left some close to the housing market scratching their collective heads. Gross mortgage lending was one of the sectors which paused in activity level. It fell by almost 20% year on year in the month and totaled £21.4 billion.

The UK housing market experienced a slow period following a strong start to the New Year. House sales fell, growth in house prices declined, and remortgage saw two months of erosion in activity. Last year proved to be a tumultuous one with political waves and policy change. Although the year finished on a high note which transitioned into 2017, a slowdown can sometimes take its toll and reverse trends. Fundamentals have slowed for a few months, but that has not affected optimism in the market.

Mortgage lending is a constant hurdle for many home buyers to overcome, especially if they are purchasing a home as a first time buyer. Inflation is rising and wage growth has become quite stagnant across the country which is leading many to relying on the bank of Mum and Dad for a down payment. Funds originating from the bank of Mum and Dad are sizeable and it makes funds from parents now the 10^th largest source of financing anywhere.

The UK housing market has shown recent signs of slowing down according to figures which indicate slow house price growth over the past few months, and even no price growth lately. There is however much life in the buy to let market which continues to be quite active regarding property sales. The remortgage sector remains active, but recent concerns about a slow month in March are creating a question mark moving forward.

In the latest data to surface regarding the UK housing market, buyer demand is slowing, overall property sales are stagnating, and an overall concern is growing that it could be a possibly slow summer season. Political turmoil combined with rising inflation is creating an unsettling mix of factors which could lead to a slow season for the market overall, experts contend. Remortgage is being widely discussed even after a strong start to the year and promising figures forecasted for the next few months.

The run of consistent house price growth in the UK housing market has possibly caught up with buyers and is now creating a market which is unaffordable for many house hunters. Prices then are responding and not rising in the latest data to emerge. Prices have actually fallen in the three months to April. A marginal decrease has taken place in the amount of 0.2%. This is the first quarterly decrease in almost five years.