Home values rise in 2014; first time since crisis

Statistics Netherlands announced today that the average price level for existing homes was 0.9 percent higher last year than in 2013. This is the first time since the financial crisis in 2008 that the average price level of a year is higher than that of the previous year. In December existing homes were 2 percent higher than in December 2013. December was the ninth consecutive month that home prices were higher than in the same month of the previous year. The Land Registry announced on Monday that 25,265 sold homes were registered in December. That is an increase of 63.4 percent compared to December 2013. In 2014, 153,511 homes changed ownership, an increase of 39.4 percent compared to 2013. Existing homes were more expensive last year in just over half of the provinces, compared to 2013. With 2.7 percent Noord-Holland had the largest price increase. The largest price decrease was measured in Friesland.