Annual house price growth in the UK halved in April compared with the previous month, as rising living costs continue to foster caution among households. According to Halifax, the average UK house price saw a 0.1 per cent month-on-month decline in April, following a 0.5 per cent fall in March. This brought the average property value down to £299,313. The annual growth rate for a typical home plummeted to just 0.4 per cent in April, a significant drop from 0.8 per cent recorded in March. This weakening in price growth could present a glimmer of opportunity for prospective first-time buyers, with Halifax noting that average prices for those stepping onto the property ladder are currently at their lowest levels seen this year. Amanda Bryden, head of mortgages, Halifax, said: “After a strong start to the year, recent global developments have added a greater degree of uncertainty to the outlook.…