Housing market shows signs of improvement
The number of homes changing hands in the third quarter of 2009 fell 23% compared with the same period in 2008 while prices were down almost 5%, the estate agents’ association NVM said on Thursday.
But compared with the previous quarter, house prices were unchanged. This is a sign of ‘cautious recovery’, the organisation said. The average price paid for a home is now €229,000.
The number of house sales is down 1% quarter on quarter but traditionally 5% fewer homes change hands in the third quarter, the NVM said.
‘We are seeing a calmer, more stable picture. There is no sign of a steep decline,’ chairman Ger Hukker said in a statement. ‘There are no really positive signals but there does appear to be some upward movement.’
The NVM said it was maintaining its earlier forecast of a 5% drop in house prices over the full year. ‘But if the final quarter shows stability as well, it will be nearer 2% than 5%,’ Hukker said.
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.
We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.
Make a donation