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03
Sept 2020
Harrogate house sales fall by 50%, but 'manic' market now rebounding
House sales in Harrogate virtually halved in the first six months of the year but estate agents say a "manic" July and August means 2020 will end strongly.
The Stray Ferret analysed Land Registry data, which shows when and where houses with a Harrogate postcode were sold.
From 1 January 2020 to 30 June 2020, 442 homes were purchased, compared with 872 in the same period in 2019. This represents a decline of 49%.
Estate agents were forced to close from 23 March until 13 May and the figures show how lockdown hit the previously buoyant sector hard.
However, Alex Atkinson, sales manager at Linley & Simpson estate agent in Harrogate told the Stray Ferret that despite the sluggish figures for January to June, it had experienced a "manic" July and August, with several homes sold for above the asking price.
He said this has been driven, in part, by the stamp duty holiday that was announced in July.
Mr Atkinson said:
Read more:
Harrogate estate agents relieved at stamp duty holiday
District estate agent reports a surge in home-buyer interest
UK house prices are at a historic all-time high but Mr Atkinson said it's unlikely the housing boom will last into 2021 as the long-term economic impact of coronavirus deepens.
He said:
Mr Atkinson said about 30% of people currently buying a home in the Harrogate district are from out of the area. He said people from cities like Leeds were being tempted by the large gardens that houses in the district can offer, especially after being cooped up indoors during lockdown.
He added:
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