The real cost to homeowners moving house within the SE of the country has risen by 132 percent within the past decade. For homeowners unable to find another method to sell home quick the cost to move house in London alone rose to 127 percent in 2011 whilst Northern Ireland saw a 24 percent rise.

Housing economist Suren Thiru, for Lloyds TSB, commented: “With the costs associated with completing a home move in the UK rising substantially over the past decade, the task for those looking to move home has undoubtedly become more challenging. The significant rise in home moving costs is particularly concerning at a time when demand in the UK housing market is weak.”

That is according to the latest forecast from the Council of Mortgage Lenders, which revealed 45,000 homes could be repossessed during the year, up 20 per cent on the estimated 37,000 in 2011.

Property sales and total mortgage lending figures are also expected to fall, the organisation added.

CML chief economist Bob Pannell commented: “We foresee a deterioration in the number of borrowers behind on their mortgages, and a more difficult and protracted period of adjustment for households seeking to reorder their finances.”

That is according to the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries, which suggested it is glad the regulator has taken steps to prevent borrowers taking on more debt than they can afford to repay.

AMI director Robert Sinclair said one of the planks of the proposals, which involves making mortgage advice a requirement for all interactive sales unless the customer rejects the offer of advice, will offer “significant benefits” for consumers.

He added: “Buying a house is a substantial financial undertaking, and we have long argued that providing consumers with expert advice is a process that cannot be left to chance. The MMR’s proposals will ensure many more consumers are given the support and guidance they need to make better and more informed decisions.”

That is according to Halifax building society, which suggested prices will remain stable in 2012, estimating movement of between two per cent and minus two per cent.

Martin Ellis, Halifax’s housing economist, said the figures are encouraging news for the property market.

“Overall, we expect continuing broad stability in house prices nationally during 2012. Prices are again likely to end the year at levels close to where they begin with the market continuing to lack any real direction,” he added.

That is according to listings website Rightmove, which revealed 2011 ended with a 2.7 per cent drop in average asking prices.

It added that asking prices should rise by two per cent next year, but there will be an expected 1.2 million new sellers, down by around a third on 2007 pre-credit crunch levels.

Rightmove director Miles Shipside suggested the fate of the eurozone could also have a significant impact on the property market next year.

He said: “It’s like a high-speed train running along a damaged track, but could the bumps be so severe as to cause another Lehman Brothers-style derailment of the property market?”

This is according to the latest Halifax house prices survey and follows a rise of 1.2 per cent in October.

The report went on to state that the average home is now worth £161,731, down one per cent compared with last November.

In addition, it added, the underlying trend is downward, with November marking the third fall in the past four months.

Halifax housing economist Martin Ellis commented: “The UK average price now is only marginally lower than at the end of 2010. In addition, activity has recently shown a few signs of strengthening a little.”

He continued: “We expect the market to remain broadly unchanged in terms of both prices and sales over the coming few months as demand and supply conditions alter little.”

That is according to a report from Bank of Scotland, which says home affordability for people still living in their first home but looking to take their next step up the property ladder is at its least favourable level for over 25 years.

The bank’s ‘second stepper’ housing affordability measure – calculated as the average price of a typical second stepper home less their current equity position as a ratio of average earnings – stood at 4.3 times gross annual average earnings in October 2011 – the highest ratio since records began in 1987.

This ratio has risen significantly over the past decade, from 2.9 in 2001, and is well above the long-run average of 3.2.

Nitesh Patel, housing economist at Bank of Scotland, remarked: “The deterioration in home affordability in Scotland over the past few years has been significant among those looking to take their second step on the property ladder.

He added: “This reflects the impact of the decline in house prices since 2007 on the amount of equity those who bought for the first time at the peak of the market have in their homes. As a result, many are faced with a tough challenge to make their next move on the property ladder.”

That is according to listings web site Rightmove, which went on to point out that 1.2 million homes will be put up for sale next year, a third of the amount available before the beginning of the credit crunch in 2007.

In terms of 2012, the picture is slightly better, the company revealed, with prices expected to rise by two per cent.

However, it added that the country will struggle because of a shortage of housing.

“Housebuilding numbers are still failing to keep pace with the increase in the number of households and the shortfall gets worse every year,” Rightmove said.

“Both the government’s new plans to boost housebuilding by easing planning restrictions and the introduction of a mortgage indemnity guarantee scheme have yet to be tested by the market.”

That is according to Helen Carter in the Guardian, who revealed house prices are rising, but mortgages remain virtually unaffordable for first-time buyers.

Ms Carter added that housing association tenants are struggling too, as they face a squeeze in benefits that will make it difficult to pay their rent.

She spoke to Derek Long, head of the north at the National Housing Federation, who said: “There’s a perfect storm coming together and its going to get worse in the north. The policies that work for ‘planet growth’ are not necessarily going to work for ‘planet X’.”

If so, you may be interested to hear that just 825,000 homes will be sold in the UK next year as economic uncertainty looks set to continue to deter buyers.

That is according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders, which has said house sales in 2012 will be at their lowest since modern records began in 1978.

Repossessions are also expected to go up next year, the CML added, from 37,000 this year to 45,000 in 2012.

Commenting on the figures, CML chief economist Bob Pannell remarked: “The weak state of the wider economy and household finances creates a challenging and highly uncertain backdrop for the housing and mortgage markets.”