House prices rise at steady pace amid improving affordability and resilient demand
The Halifax has reported the third consecutive monthly increase in the average house price in the UK, which the building society says is supported by improving affordability and resilient demand. An increase of 0.3% in August takes the average UK property price to £299,331 – an annual growth rate of 2.2% (down from 2.5% in […]
Mortgage searches slow in August as lenders compete with record number of products
New data from mortgage product platform Twenty7tec shows a slowdown in mortgage searches over the traditionally quiet August period, with the total number falling 13.95% compared to July. The decrease took overall search activity to its lowest rate since June 2024, representing a 1% dip compared to August last year. Demand from first time buyers […]
Purchasing down but mortgage lending up in ‘market showing underlying momentum’
The Q2 Household Finance Review from UK Finance shows an expected drop in purchase transactions following stamp duty changes. But with mortgage lending returning to growth, the financial services trade association says the data suggests continuing underlying momentum. Despite the anticipated decrease in purchase activity following the large spike in March, Q2 applications were up […]
Propertymark data shows drop in demand, but market ‘remains buoyant’
The latest housing insight report from Propertymark shows a drop in demand over July, but the number of transactions and appraisals reflect a buoyant market and unshaken consumer confidence, the organisation says. The monthly survey of Propertymark member agents reveals the average number of new buyers registering per member branch dropped by 11 to 65 […]
Nationwide’s report of softening house price growth ‘no surprise’ for upbeat property experts
Nationwide’s August House Price Index shows a softening of growth, with prices down 0.1% since July. But with wider conditions supporting buyer demand, industry commentators said the news is ‘no surprise’ and will ‘drive a strong finish to the year for the housing market’. ‘August saw a slight softening in the rate of annual house […]
Completions down 22% – but ‘momentum continues to build’ in property market
Data from estate agency network eXp UK reveals completions fell by 22.5% in Q2 compared to the previous quarter – but with sales up 13% and new listings climbing 15%, the company says housing market momentum is continuing to build. The analysis, based on the firm’s own internal data, looked at market activity based on […]
Demand is high in buyers’ market, with one in 10 homes reduced – Zoopla
The latest House Price Index from Zoopla shows higher buyer demand and more sales agreed than the same period last year, with house price growth stabilising over the summer months. In the four weeks to 17 August, year-on-year demand increased by 4%, sales agreed were up by 5% and the stock of new homes for […]
Rightmove CEO urges government to ‘carefully consider’ property tax changes amid doubts over financial benefits
Rightmove has asked the government to carefully consider the impact of any changes to property taxation to avoid risking disruption to the housing market. The property platform has analysed the impact of the proposed national property tax and so-called mansion tax, and warns that any buyer savings would be wiped out by sellers increasing asking […]
‘Confidence is returning’ as house prices rise 1.4% in June – reaction to ONS house price index
Average UK house prices increased by 1.4% between May and June, up from an increase of 0.4% in the same period 12 months ago, according to the latest data from the ONS. Annual prices rose by 3.7% in the year to June 2025, up from a revised estimate of 2.7% in the 12 months to […]
Homeowners increasingly prioritising refinancing over moving
The number of homeowners choosing to refinance instead of move house is increasing, with data from Twenty7tec revealing remorgaging figures are almost level with those buying a new home. In July, the mortgage tech company’s advisers handled 885,774 remortgage searches compared with 938,060 purchase searches – taking remortgage searches to 94% of purchase volumes. In […]
‘Stable demand bodes well for coming months’ – Rightmove
With recent reports of declining housing market health disrupting the optimism of recent months, Rightmove’s latest house price index offers a more reassuring outlook. The largest monthly sample of residential property prices and housing market activity reports an 8% increase in the number of sales compared to the same period last year, with lower asking […]
High demand will see residential transactions reach 1.18m this year – TwentyEA
Data compiled by analytics specialists TwentyEA suggests residential property transactions will reach 1.18 million by the end of the year – the highest level seen since 2022. TwentyEA’s analysis shows the volume of sales agreed has reached 791,000 so far this year (January to July) – 6.8% higher than the same period in 2024. HMRC […]
RICS survey paints gloomy picture at odds with recent sector optimism
The latest monthly sentiment survey of chartered surveyors in the residential sales market shows signs of a faltering market, after several months of positive figures and sector optimism. The Residential Market Survey from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) conveys a ‘relatively weak backdrop’, with buyer demand and agreed sales falling back into negative […]
Falling mortgage arrears ‘reflect market resilience’ – UK Finance
The trade association for the UK banking and financial services sector has reported a reduction in the number of homeowner mortgages in arrears, with overall possession numbers ‘significantly lower’ than long-term averages. The Q2 mortgage arrears and possessions data from UK Finance – released as RICS members reported a gloomier near-term outlook for the property […]
Borrowers increasingly favour short-term mortgage deals over long-term stability
Short-term fixed-rate mortgage products have reached record levels of popularity, according to new data from Twenty7tec, with interest in longer-term options falling to the lowest level ever. Analysis by the mortgage tech platform shows a 43.29% drop in the number of searches for 10-year fixed mortgages since May, while deals for two years or less […]
Mortgage arrears down in ‘promising sign’ affordability pressures are easing
Mortgage arrears are down across all regions of the UK* for the first time since the cost-of-living crisis began, according to data from global credit intelligence company Pepper Advantage. Overall UK arrears, which include residential and buy-to-let mortgages, dropped by 4.4% in Q2 2025 compared to the previous quarter – the first widespread improvement since […]
Bank of England rate cut is ‘the shot in the arm the property sector has been waiting for’
In a widely expected decision, the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee has cut interest rates to 4% – a move that property and finance experts agree will stimulate the housing market and provide a much-needed boost to those facing affordability challenges. Jonathan Handford, managing director of Fine & Country, said cutting the base rate […]
House prices rise 0.4% and ‘affordability is gradually improving’ – Halifax
A 0.4% increase in house prices announced by Halifax has been welcomed as good news for consumers, with the building society saying it expects modest gains to last throughout the year. With easing mortgage rates, rising wages and more flexible affordability assessments, the result is ‘a housing market that continues to show resilience’. ‘Challenges remain […]
Property market ‘strongest it’s been since 2022’
An analysis of government data and Bank of England figures by comparison website GetAgent suggests that the UK property market is the strongest it’s been since 2022, with both mortgage approvals and transactions at their highest level for three years. The analysis shows that a total of 623,500 property transactions took place across the UK […]
Research from high street banks highlights struggle to get on the property ladder
Reports released this week by TSB and Barclays have highlighted the difficulties faced by many people who want to get on the property ladder, with 80% of first-time buyers moving back in with their parents to cut costs, and the number of renters saving for a deposit hitting a six-month low. The TSB report revealed […]