The comparison of activity from Q2 against Q1 2012 showed a +16.9% increase in the number of new ‘for sale’ listings reported and a +21.2% increase in the number of properties ‘sold’.
Of the 12 UK regions covered within the Index, three bucked the seasonal trend and saw month-on-month increases in new ‘for sale’ listings during June.
These were London – up by 17.1%, Wales – up 5.4% and the South East – up by 4.9%.
Most regions reported an expected seasonal decline but some worse than expected, these were the North East – down by 30.3%, Scotland – down by 14.2%, Yorkshire – down by 12.0% and the North West – down by 8.6%.
For properties sold, four regions reported positive month-on-month increases for June, Yorkshire – up 10.1%, the South East – up 5.1%, the North East – up 3.0% and the South West – up 2.9%.
At the bottom of the regional table for the number of properties ‘sold’ in June 2012 compared to May 2012 were the West Midlands – down by 25.4%, Wales – down by 23.3%, Central – down by 14.9% and the North West – down by 12.5%.
Stephen Watson, managing director of Agency Express, said: “June has been an interesting month for the UK property market. Predominantly the figures do follow the seasonal month-on-month trend for June established since our Index began 2007, but it does also show some real geographic variances between countries, regions and cities. London is frequently talked about as a barometer for the UK housing market and in June it was one of the hot-spots with some positive figures.
"Year on year figures for June 2012 against June 2011 are also very encouraging with positive growth. Looking ahead at the next few months I do have some specific concerns that potentially could impact on the market; the growing euro-zone crisis and is undoubtedly having an impact on consumer confidence; the Olympics promises to be a sporting feast but could postpone activity until early September; the slump in mortgage lending figures to first-time buyers since the end of the stamp duty concession could well restrict the bottom-end stimulus that is badly needed.”
