House prices in the UK "set remain to flat"

House prices in the UK are likely to remain flat throughout next year as first-time buyers continue to struggle to get on the property ladder and the market remains strongest in London and the South of England, the Halifax bank said Thursday. The lender predicts that prices will remain within a margin of between plus and minus 2% during 2013, ending the year at similar levels to now before slowly climbing as the economy strengthens. It added that house prices rose by 1% month-on-month in November to reach an average of 160,879, but they lack any clear direction, with five monthly rises and six falls this year. Prices are 1.3% lower than they were a year ago, which shows "remarkable stability" against the tough economic backdrop, Halifax said.