It may be a surprise to learn that between 1900 and 1960 the real growth rate in house prices was nearly zero, according to 'Safe as Houses' by Neil Monnery.
If you bought in 1952 prices rose around 2.4% a year to 2010.
If you started in 1995, prices increased by 5% a year in real terms.
Large increases in house prices is a recent occurrence, the historical average annual increase is close to 0.7%