Economic growth. Demand for housing is dependent upon income. With higher economic growth and rising incomes people will be able to spend more on houses; this will increase demand and push up prices. In fact, demand for housing is often noted to be income elastic (luxury good); rising incomes leading to a bigger % of income being spent on houses. Similarly in a recession, falling incomes will mean people can’t afford to buy and those who lose their job may fall behind in their mortgage payments and end up with their home repossess.