Surprise rise in house prices in June House prices increased by 1pc month-on-month in June - against forecasts of a 0.2pc fall - and dropped by 0.5pc year-on-year, but the annual change is a much less sharp drop than the falls seen a year ago, according to Halifax. Its latest study takes average house prices to £162,417, and Halifax suggested that some recent improvements in the employment market, and low levels of mortgage payments by historic standards, may have helped to keep prices up. Halifax housing economist Martin Ellis said: "There has been a marked improvement in the annual rate of change over the past 12 months. A year ago, in May 2011, house prices were falling at an annual rate of 4.2pc. In contrast, there has been broad stability recently with the annual rate between zero and minus 0.5pc in each of the past three months. Mr Ellis expects "little change in prices and sales over the remainder of the year" provided the UK's economic outlook does not "deteriorate significantly." Not everyone is as optimistic however. Russell Quirk, of estate agents eMoov.co.uk said that bad news from the eurozone could add further downward pressure. "There are a couple of economic positives in the form of falling inflation and unemployment but the market is still on a knife-edge," he said. Anyone looking to sell in the current market has to put their property on at the right price, or be prepared to wait indefinitely. Buyers know they have a strong hand right now. The fact that supply is even weaker than demand is supporting prices.