There were 466,000 home sales in the first six months of this year, HM Revenue and Customs has reported.
This was 10% more than in the same period last year when there were 425,000 sales and 2% higher than in the second half of 2011 (458,000).
However, the new figures show the effect of the the rush by first-time buyers before the ending of the Stamp Duty holiday in March, with sales dipping 11% between the first and second quarters.
Meanwhile, the latest Halifax House Price Index shows that prices are bouncing up and down slightly – but essentially going nowhere.
They are the same as three years ago in the summer of 2009.
Last month, according to Halifax, house prices fell by 0.6% after consecutive rises in May and June. So far this year, there have been four monthly rises and three falls.
The annual fall in July was also 0.6% and the average house price now stands at £161,094.
Comments
"The Assetz House Price Watch is an overview of the data supplied by five leading UK house prices indices: Acadametrics, RIGHTMOVE, Nationwide, Halifax and the ONS" (my emphasis in caps)
An index which merges sold prices with asking prices isn't going to carry much weight given the current huge gulf between the two.
"Halifax House Price Index shows prices are bouncing up and down slightly – but essentially going nowhere - the average house price now stands at £161,094."
"House Price Watch has revealed UK housing market prices now up 4.7 per cent since the end of 2011. The average price of a home is now £205,309".
Statistics - don't you just love them?