U.K. Asking Prices Hit Record in the Face of Raging Demand

Good news for home sellers across the U.K. in May spelled bad news for buyers as property price gains reached double digits, according to a report Tuesday from Nationwide.

Asking prices swelled 10.9% last month compared to May 2020, the highest level recorded since August 2014. The gains pushed up the average asking price in the country to a record £242,832 (A$442,819), which is £23,930 higher than the same time last year, the bank and mortgage provider said.

The U.K.’s property market spent half of last May shuttered following the arrival of the coronavirus pandemic. In England—Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland reopened on separate timetables—restrictions on the industry were eased in mid-May, and allowed activity to resume in accordance with government-mandated guidelines.

On a monthly basis, prices rose by 1.8% in May from April, slightly less than the 2.3% jump recorded between March and April, according to Nationwide.

“In the same way as other sectors of the economy, house prices have been driven higher by a supply squeeze as the U.K. comes out of the pandemic,” Tom Bill, head of U.K. residential research at Knight Frank, said in a statement on the report’s findings.

“Add in a stamp duty holiday and the fact pent-up demand has been building for years against the backdrop of Brexit, and the result is a burst of house price inflation,” he continued. “More supply is starting to come online, which will redress the balance. We therefore expect U.K. house price growth will slow down after the summer, declining to 5% by the end of 2021.”

A Mid-Century Modern home in Carmel, California, hit the market on Friday for just the third time in 70 years with a listing price of $4.25 million.

Located in the community of Carmel Highlands, the house is just steps from the coastline and comes with private beach access, according to the listing with Tim Allen of Coldwell Banker Realty in Northern California. Allen was not immediately available for comment.

The property last changed hands in 2010 when Hollywood screenwriter Richard Outten bought it for $990,000, public records show. Outten penned the screenplays for the 1992 movie “Pet Sematary Two” and the 1987 film “Lionheart,” and created the story for the 2012 “Journey to the Center of the Earth” sequel, “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island.” He was not immediately available for comment.

Built in 1953, the home’s mid-century charm has been preserved over the years while still being updated for modern living. Interior details include wood paneling, exposed-brick walls and beamed ceilings.

The single-level house has 1,785 square feet, which includes three bedrooms and two full bathrooms. Though not directly on the water, large windows flanking the adobe-brick, wood-burning fireplace look out at the ocean.

Sliding glass doors create a seamless flow between indoor and outdoor living. Outside, there’s a large patio surrounded by lush landscaping, and there are also meandering paths through sustainable succulent gardens, according to the listing.

In addition to its close proximity to the beach, the home is a 10-minute walk from downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea.

As of July, the median list price in Carmel is $3.1 million, up 8% from last year, even as active listings have increased 50% year over year, according to data from Realtor.com.

U.K. Asking Prices Hit Record in the Face of Raging Demand

Double-digit annual increases left the average asking price at £242,832 in May.

Owned by Richard Outten, who’s penned screenplays for films including “Pet Sematary Two” and “Lionheart,” this is only the third time the home has been on the market