GLG News by Residential Real Estate Experts (United Kingdom)

Jon WatsonPrincipalJon Watson Consulting

Recovery in UK housing production could trigger further land bank write downs

August 6, 2009

Analysis of:Taylor Wimpey takes further £527m writedowns | www.ft.com

Taylor Wimpey's results (5 August) show a further write down of £527m on their land bank and work in progress. The following day, Bellway launched a £45m rights issue to finance further land purchases (http://www.building.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=3146488&origin=bldgdailynewsletter). These different responses to the problem of writing down the value of sites purchased at the height of the housing land bubble in 2006/7 could have significant consequences as the market recovers.

Jon WatsonPrincipalJon Watson Consulting

SAFETY FIRST, BUT A RATHER HASTY DECISION?

October 10, 2008

Analysis of:Kier to focus on social housing | www.ft.com

Kier is one of the major housing contractors in the UK and a significant “second division” house builder.  They have decided to exit house building and concentrate solely on building for housing associations (the main providers of affordable/social housing in the UK).    In the short term, this is undoubtedly an appropriate tactic.  However, I am not sure that it makes sense as a longer term strategy.  The latest NHBC statistics show that house building starts in the June – August quarter 2008 are down 65%, whereas social housing starts are up 8%.   However, house building opportunities in the UK are dependent on land supply, which is very restricted due to the planning system.  In the short term, there will be a ready supply of “fire sale” sites, but when the market recovers, shortages are likely to become very apparent very quickly. 

Jon WatsonPrincipalJon Watson Consulting

Pretty painful, but not terminal

June 16, 2008

Analysis of:U.K. Homebuilders May Avoid `Armageddon,' UBS Says | www.bloomberg.com

Whilst there is no doubt that there will be significant write downs on some sites in most house-builders’ land banks, the nature of the land deals for many of the sites in those land banks means that much of the pain will be felt by the original vendors of the sites rather than the house-builders themselves.

Jon WatsonPrincipalJon Watson Consulting

UK House Prices: Is this the turning point? Probably, but not in the way that most commentators suggest!

March 28, 2008

Analysis of:Where are the first time buyers? Day of reckoning for the housing market | www.guardian.co.uk

First time buyer activity is the traditional prop for the market:  despite continued high levels of household formation (225k per annum, compared with build rates of 160-180k per annum), increasing numbers of newly forming households are choosing to rent rather than buy. In parallel, buy to let activity, the boom industry over the last five years, has evaporated as a result of the credit crunch. Where are the buyers to allow people to trade up from entry level properties?

Jon WatsonPrincipalJon Watson Consulting

Unintended consequences?

March 3, 2008

Analysis of:Opening bids: how the badly drafted Housing Bill could choke the supply of affordable new homes | property.timesonline.co.uk

Reduced levels of house building Reduced provision of affordable housing Increased public borrowings Loss of innovation and growth in new housing products.

Jon WatsonPrincipalJon Watson Consulting

Pop goes the property boom? Not in the real world.

February 28, 2008

Analysis of:Pop goes the property boom | www.guardian.co.uk

“The spectre of negative equity that blighted so many households in the 90s is back with a vengeance”.  Is it?  Articles like this can be very influential in determining market sentiment so may become self-fulfilling prophecies despite the facts.

Nigel MarksDirectorMarks Consultancy Services

The UK Commercial Property Market - A temporary blip or something more significant?

January 2, 2008

Analysis of:Optimists stand tall as tremors hit office market | business.timesonline.co.uk

James Rossiter's article suggests that there is a difference between the current fall in UK office and retail property prices and that which occurred about 15 years ago when it took several years for the market to recover. He implies that the current downturn is likely to be shortlived and that the commercial office and retail property market will bounce back fairly quickly, particularly since the prevailing conditions are very different. His article is very relevant as the bouyancy of the UK property sector is inextricably linked to the health of the UK economy generally.

Jon WatsonPrincipalJon Watson Consulting

Crash or blip?

November 23, 2007

Analysis of:Guardian Business: House price slowdown continues for second month; Sharp market correction is 'a real possibility' | www.guardian.co.uk

There is no doubt that housing market activity has declined sharply over the last few months, with listing volumes down by 30% from September 2006 to September 2007.  Unlike the USA, it is doubtful that this will lead to significant price falls, but the reduced volumes are likely to continue.  What are the implications for providers of homes and services in the sector? 

Jon WatsonPrincipalJon Watson Consulting

The likely economic and social imapcts on the UK government's Housing Green Paper

August 17, 2007

Analysis of:The Housing Green Paper | www.communities.gov.uk

Homes for the future: more affordable, more sustainable? The UK government’s Housing Green Paper: what are the likely economic and social consequences?

Nigel MarksDirectorMarks Consultancy Services

UK Homebuilding - Can the Government's proposals satisfy the housing need?

July 26, 2007

Analysis of:The Housing Green Paper | www.communities.gov.uk

The UK Government has announced proposals to deliver 3 million new homes by 2020 to keep up with demand, particularly for affordable, sustainable homes. To enable this to happen, land must be made more readily available and the complex planning process that exists, must be simplified. To achieve these significantly increased housing numbers, delivery mechanisms must be redefined. The public sector's role must be redefined and private developers must see some commercial advantage that may or may not accrue to them. The Government's proposals are designed to stimulate discussion and the consultation period ends in October, this year.

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