House prices have struggled this year due to a range of factors

The average price of a UK home dipped in August for the fourth time in six months, in a sign that the property market is under real pressure .

The average price of a house in the UK fell to £271,079, down 0.1 per cent from the month before – a surprise to market watchers, who had expected 0.2 per cent growth.

Robert Gardner, Nationwide’s chief economist, said affordability issues were behind the decline.

“House prices are still high compared to household incomes, making raising a deposit challenging for prospective buyers, especially given the intense cost of living pressures in recent years,” he said.

Mortgage payments have also steeply risen: On average, a first-time buyer now spends 44 per cent of their salary in

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