Auction Watch – April update – The Property Chronicle
Select your region of interest:

Real estate, alternative real assets and other diversions

Auction Watch – April update Current trends in the auction market

The Auctioneer

In March the highest number of lots was put under the hammer since 2008 (3,263 lots). A decade ago the economy was in the midst of a credit crunch and the auction market saw increasing numbers of repossessions and motivated vendors but fewer buyers; indeed, the average sale rate was a lowly 62% compared to the far more sustainable 74% we see today.

The recent gains have also had a positive impact on the quarterly and yearly results. Over 500 more lots were offered in Q1 2018 than in Q1 2017 – a gain of 7.2%, whilst the rolling yearly figures show a 1.2% increase over the last 12 months to 33,495 lots.

The residential sector has certainly been the main contributor to these gains. Residential lots offered and sold were both up over 12% in March, to 2,511 lots and 1,847 lots respectively, whilst residential receipts jumped almost 15% to £301m. This is the highest number of residential sales ever recorded in March, surpassing the previous high of 1,846 lots sold in March 2007.

All the major London commercial auctioneers held an auction during March, so it is pleasing to see volumes up on last year – lots offered by 6.7% to 577 lots and lots sold by 4.3% to 436 lots. The amount raised did contract slightly though; down 17% to £116m, suggesting an increase of smaller-sized lots going under the hammer.






The Auctioneer

About Auction Watch

Auction Watch is a regular feature looking at the preceding month's auction activity, based on data from David Sandeman of the Essential Information Group.

Articles by Auction Watch

Subscribe to our magazine now!

SUBSCRIBE

Our Partners