What Are The UK Housing Market Trends?

Thinking of moving home this year and wondering whether now’s the right time to buy or sell? You’re definitely not alone. But what’s really happening in the housing market right now? What are the UK housing market trends to watch out for?

To find out, I sat down with Toby Leek from Propertymark, President of Propertymark estate agents. Our goal was to get an idea of what local agents are seeing in their areas. From buyer behaviour to emerging hotspots, we uncover what’s really going on at street level. Here’s what you might expect in the weeks ahead.

The market’s moving

The spring market is traditionally one of the busiest times of the year for property. But is 2025 shaping up to follow that trend in the housing market?

Despite wider economic concerns and an ever-watchful eye on interest rates, the general feeling among property professionals is clear. There’s still momentum. People are buying, selling, and viewing – and in significant numbers. One agent in the North East reported over 1,500 property viewings in January alone. With another 900 already logged for February, that kind of activity is a promising sign. Interest is alive and well, even if buyers are taking a little longer to make decisions. Paying attention to housing market trends can help.

Regional hot spots

One stand-out area is the North East, where house price growth hit an impressive 5.2%. More than double that of London! It’s not just prices going up, either. The number of viewings and general buyer activity has seen a clear boost.

What’s driving this? Affordability, more homes coming to market, and buyers keen to take advantage of relatively stable mortgage rates at the moment. These factors form important housing market trends to keep an eye on.

Spring market forward

After years of ups, downs and surprises, could this finally be the year of the ‘normal’ market?

With the Bank of England holding interest rates steady, many buyers are no longer waiting on rate cuts to make their move. Instead, they’re adjusting expectations and forging ahead based on current housing market trends.

Of course, the Spring Budget and the impact of the end-of-March stamp duty changes may shift things again. But for now, at ground level, there seems to be solid levels of intent to move from both buyers and sellers. This is due to the favourable housing market trends.

For sellers: preparation is key

Sellers take note, however, as this housing market is all about being well-prepared and price-savvy.

Stock levels are good, which means buyers have more choice than before. That’s great news if you’re house-hunting. However, it means sellers need to ensure their home stands out for all the right reasons. That means:

• Get paperwork sorted early: Think boiler certificates, planning permissions, title deeds – have it ready before you go to market.
• Be realistic with pricing: Overpricing will lead to stagnation. One agent recently picked up a home that had been sitting unsold for over a year. They priced it sensibly. As a result, it went under offer within days, showcasing the importance of current housing market trends in pricing strategies.
• Instruct your solicitor early: Get the legal ball rolling straight away. It’ll shave weeks off the process once you find a buyer.

Challenges facing first-time buyers

The reality for many aspirational first-time home owners is that it’s tough out there.

High rents are making it difficult to save for a deposit. Rising house prices only add to the challenge. Many are turning to the Bank of Mum and Dad (now identified as one of the UK’s biggest lenders) to help bridge the gap to enter the housing market.

Lenders are slowly starting to offer more innovative mortgage products. We may hear further announcements in upcoming government budgets to support new buyers. But for now, affordability remains a key hurdle in current housing market trends.

The rental market’s tight supply, rising rents

An increasing number of landlords are stepping away from the sector and selling off their rental homes. They are put off by rising mortgage rates, reduced tax reliefs, and looming legislation changes. The result is that the number of homes to rent is reduced, squeezing supply. Rents are continuing to rise.

This adds pressure to renters trying to save for a deposit and feeds into wider housing affordability issues. These trends are critical to understanding the current rental market.

If you found this timely update on the trends in the UK housing market useful, don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter! I regularly share the latest insights, free and discounted tickets to home shows, and timely advice on moving, selling, buying, owning, and renting.

Last Updated: April 8th, 2025