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LONDON, Oct 6 (Reuters) - House prices in Britain rose 1.6 percent in September -- more than twice as fast as expected -- leaving prices down 7.4 percent in the three months to September versus a year ago, mortgage lender Halifax said on Tuesday.
That left the average price of a home at 163,533 pounds ($260,400), the mortgage lender said.
Analysts had forecast a rise 0.6 percent, for a three-month annual fall of 7.8 percent.
(Reporting by David Milliken) ($1=.6279 Pound) Keywords: BRITAIN PROPERTY/HALIFAX

(Reuters Messaging: david.milliken.reuters.com@reuters.net; david.milliken@reuters.com; +44 20 7542 5109)

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