Q3 2004 new house-building statistics Northern Ireland 14/02/06
House-building activity in Northern Ireland showed a slight decrease during the third quarter of 2004 according to statistics released today by NHBC.
NHBC figures for Northern Ireland, reveal that a total of 2,621 applications were made to start new homes during the quarter, showing a two per cent decrease on the same period in 2003 (2,665).
In Northern Ireland the average anticipated selling price of new homes (registered with NHBC) during quarter three 2004 was £123,000, a seven per cent increase on quarter three 2003 (£115,000). Based on actual selling prices, the proportion of homes sold for over £100,000 was 54 percent, an increase on the same period last year (45 per cent).
Tom Kirk, NHBC Director for Northern Ireland, says: "There was a slight decrease in the number of starts in Northern Ireland for quarter three. However NHBC statistics show that so far this year the number of starts in Northern Ireland are up four per cent on last year."
NHBC's first time buyers' ability to buy index decreased by seven points during the quarter to 68 (quarter two was 75). The index is based on a formula which takes into account the average cost of homes bought by first time buyers, average income and mortgage interest rates (from the Nationwide Building Society). The higher the index, the greater the ability to buy.
UK-wide figures show a total of 48,909 applications to start new homes during quarter three of 2004, showing a nine percent increase on the same period in 2003 (45,067). Of that total, 43,407 relate to private sector activity (i.e. excluding housing associations), showing a six percent increase on the same quarter of 2003 (40,924). Housing association starts totalled 5,502 - an increase of 33 percent on quarter three of 2003 (4,143).
NHBC UK figures show that there were 40,101 new build completions during quarter three of 2004, showing a two percent increase on the same quarter last year (39,251).
NHBC UK figures show that there were 40,101 new build completions during quarter three of 2004, showing a two percent increase on the same quarter last year (39,251).The figure for the average daily sales of new homes in the UK for quarter three of 2004 was 546, an increase of eight percent on the same period in 2003 (507).
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