House prices set for soft landing - papers 27th July

The country's largest mortgage lender yesterday said house prices had developed in line with its expectations in the first six months of the year, during which they showed no growth at all. But Halifax chief economist Marti Ellis says the UK housing market is on course for a gentle slowdown and house prices are expected to fall 2% nationally this year as the annual rate of increase has declined from more than 20% to below 4%. THAT SAID, HBOS also suggests the Scottish housing market is set to grow 10% this year – a higher rise than anywhere else on the UK mainland, adds the Scotsman. ...