The Nationwide house price index has reported that average UK house prices rose 8.4% in 2013. A strong upswing in December of 1.4% capped a strong year.
Although prices still lag around 5% from the peak in 2007, the growth is especially promising because figures indicate that every region in the UK experienced a rise in house prices during 2013.
At the extremes were London – where growth was 14.9% – and northern England, which experienced a rise of only 1.9%. Other regions saw a rise in prices of between 3.7% and 8.6%.
With average prices rising, homeowners who commit to home improvements will be more likely to see a return on investment when they sell. Possible improvements include installing new fascia boards or soffits, or brightening the garden with natural-look uPVC decking.