The latest statistics include data based on mortgage completions during the month of April 2010 and shows that house prices rose over the year to April, up from 9.7% in the year to march.
In the month to April 2010 there was a rise of 0.4% in house prices compared with a fall of 0.4% over the same period last year, resulting in an increase in annual house price growth.
Annual house prices rose in all UK countries except Northern Ireland in the year to April 2010. Annual house price growth was 10.9% in England, 2.2% in Scotland and 11.3% in Wales. In Northern Ireland prices fell by 8.9% on average in the year to April.
All regions have seen an increase in house prices over the year to April. The largest being in London (16.8%) and the smallest in Yorkshire and the Humber (4.0%). There was annual growth in the East of England (11.9%), South West (11.5%), South East (10.1%), East Midlands (9.2%), West Midlands (9.1%), North East (7.8%) and North West (6.7%).
London remains the English region with the highest average house price (£332,677). The North East was the lowest at £139,595.
Annual growth in UK house prices for first time buyers was 12.2% in April compared to 12.6% in March. There was an increase of 1.4% in the month to April compared to an increase of 1.7% in the same period last year.
Annual growth for former owner occupiers was 9.3% in April compared to 8.6% in March. Between March and April 2010 the price of properties bought by former owner occupiers grew by 0.5%, compared to a fall of 0.6% in the same period last year leading to a small decrease in the annual growth.
The average house price paid by first time buyers in the UK in April was £153,803 compared to £240,629 paid by former owner occupiers.
Annual growth in UK house prices for new properties was 7.6% in April compared to 1.3% in March. There was an increase of 5.6% in the price paid for new properties in the month to April compared to a fall of 0.6% in the same period last year. This is the largest month on month increase for new properties since December 2008.
The annual house price growth rate for pre-owned dwellings was 10.3% in April, the same as in March.
The average price paid for a new property in the UK in April was £195,675 and the average price paid for a pre-owned property was £208,451.
