House price rises 'expected by 35pc' Lenders are also tightening their credit criteria, making it harder for borrowers to get a mortgage in the coming months, while more than a million homeowners saw their mortgage payments rise this month due to a string of lenders putting up their rates. However, among those who believe prices will rise in the Rightmove survey, 35pc put their belief down to improvements in the mortgage market, while 14pc say record-low interest rates have helped. Miles Shipside, director at Rightmove, said: "Confidence plays an important role in motivating those who can afford to buy to actually go ahead. Many of them are hunting in the same better-heeled locations, which in turn builds greater momentum and price rise expectation in these more affluent areas. Conversely, lower levels of activity in less well-off areas spreads negative sentiment, fuelling falling price confidence. Among those who believe prices will go down in the next year, nearly two-thirds believe this will happen due to a lack of mortgage availability, high deposits required by lenders or a fear of interest rates rising. Half of people intending to buy a home this year say that finding a suitable property is their biggest concern, a rise from 36pc two years ago. The report also finds that the choice of properties on the market is "subdued," at around 35pc below 2007 levels. Despite the flat market generally, 46pc of people still believe property prices in their local area are above fair and reasonable levels.