Property in 2011: the rich will get richer - Citywire

Property in 2011: the rich will get richer - Citywire

Is the property market going to even out this year? Linton Chiswick explains how the gap between the north and south, rich and poor and old and young looks only set to widen.

Like holding hands and singing Auld Lang Syne, reading future property price movements is a bit of a British New Year tradition.

It all felt a little predictable this time around – mild optimism from John Charcol (up 2%), nothing much from Nationwide or Halifax (static market), modest falls predicted by most of the agents, a big drop according perennial property-sceptics Capital Economics (down 10%) – but the bears have gathered following the first major index publication of the year.