Prices Improve

House prices crept up 0.5 per cent between May to July 2011, according to the latest Halifax House Price Index.

It reveals that the average UK house price in July was 0.7 per cent higher than the previous six months, standing at an average of £163,981.

Mortgage approvals rose four per cent, but while the market continues to stabilise, global economic uncertainty means little real change in UK housing activity trends.