Star Wars: A long time ago…

Halifax is celebrating the launch of Star Wars: The Force Awakens by looking at house price fluctuations since the firstinstallmentA New Home in 1977.

Back then homes typically cost £13,650, meaning prices have since risen by 1399% to £204,500 according to the lender's latest index.

Typical house prices rose to £23,596 with the launch of the critically acclaimed Empire Strikes Back in 1980 before reaching £30,725 in 1983 with the last film in the original trilogy Return of the Jedi.

With the launch of the turgid trio (in the author's humble opinion) The Phantom Menace in 1999, the Attack of the Clones in 2002 and Revenge of the Sith in 2005, prices rose to £75,844, £106,195 and £162,783.

Craig McKinlay, mortgages director, Halifax, said: "For Star Wars fans the promise of a new trilogy means the circle is now complete.

"Box office receipts are likely to cement the franchise's place as one of the most successful series of all time.

"However, it's no Jedi mind trick to say even the returns here have been dwarfed by increases in the value of UK housing stock."