House prices rise 1.3pc in December The average price of a house in December was £163,845, said Halifax, with the figure when measured on a quarterly basis up for the first time in seven months amid signs of a firming in housing market towards the end of 2012. Prices rose 0.6pc in the three months from October to December. "Overall, last year saw an even mix of monthly rises and falls as prices lacked any real direction as both demand and supply pressures remained largely unchanged during 2012," said Martin Ellis, housing economist at Halifax. "Subdued economic growth, sustained high unemployment and pressures on household finances will constrain housing demand," said Halifax. The relatively low level of mortgage payments in relation to income, however, should provide support for house prices.