Decline aside, average sold prices over the last three months have registered the most consistent, upward performance in the last year.
The firm analysed data on property transactions above the £1m threshold to see how sold prices and transaction numbers had fared over the last 12 months and since December’s election result.
According to the findings, the number of £1m+ transactions actually climbed month-on-month ahead of December’s election. However, while the overall market enjoyed a Boris inspired bounce in the months that followed, transactions on property selling at £1m or more declined at an average of -45% per month between December and March.
The largest monthly decline of -87% came between February and March as the nation approached lockdown and many buyers and sellers sat tight due to further market uncertainty.
Year on year, transactions at £1m and above were -91% lower when compared to March last year, although again, this was largely driven by Government-imposed restrictions.
There has, however, been a silver lining for the nation’s high-end homeowners. Despite the number of transactions stuttering in the wake of the election results, price trends are yet to follow suit.
Compared to a year ago, the average sold price for properties at £1m and over has increased by a notable 4%, averaging growth of 1.5% a month since the election. This is the most consistent level of growth seen over the last year with three consecutive months of positive movement.
Islay Robinson, Group CEO of Enness Global, commented: “The high-end market is one built on quality over quantity mentality and as a result, a transactional decline can often be more pronounced during periods of market instability, with recovery periods also taking longer.
"That’s certainly been the case of late and while much of the wider market enjoyed a swift return to form following December’s election, the almost immediate industry-wide lockdown that followed in March has prevented the top end of the market from gathering momentum. This has been driven, for the most part, by a decline in foreign buyer interest with many unable to travel and therefore opting to put their purchase on hold.
"However, despite the notable decline in transactions, there has been a silver lining in the form of consistent, upward price growth. This is a natural occurrence in a market where demand remains while supply falls, but for the average sold price at this tier to climb at plus one percent for three consecutive months demonstrates a very firm foundation.
"With this foundation in place, it is very likely that the prime UK market will bounce back in the coming months and any drastic drop in values seen during previous periods of market turbulence is unlikely to materialise.”
