Homes are selling as fast as last year across more than half of UK regions, despite higher mortgage rates

Despite the dual impact of the war in West Asia and higher mortgage rates, the average time to sell a home has risen by just one day year-on-year, Zoopla’s data shows.

Homes are selling as fast as last year across more than half of UK regions, despite higher mortgage rates. Sellers in London face longer to find buyers, however.

The report finds that sales agreed are just 3% down on last year with a clear rebound in buyer enquiries after the Easter break, with those looking to move encouraged by a ceasefire and mortgage rates starting to drift lower. Zoopla’s house price index shows UK house price inflation is holding steady at 1.3%, compared to 1.8% a year ago, with the average price of a UK home sitting at £271,700.

UK house price inflation is holding steady at 1.3% year-on-year, supported by enough transactions completing to keep prices stable nationally. The North-South divide in both sales speed and price growth is likely to persist through 2026.

House price growth reflects this divide. The North East is the strongest performing region in Great Britain, seeing a 3.2% increase year-on-year, followed by the North West at 3.1% and Scotland at 2.6%, while Northern Ireland continues to lead the UK at 6.7%. Within these regions, cities like Liverpool are seeing some of the strongest price growth in the country (4.5%), followed by Manchester and Newcastle, which both see annual increases of 3%.

Richard Donnell, executive director at Zoopla, said: Homes are taking just one day longer to sell than this time last year. That is a strong result given increased uncertainty and mortgage rates rising sharply in March. Buyer enquiries have rebounded after Easter and with mortgage rates starting to fall, we expect the market to remain active through the rest of the year. Households who need to move are getting on with it though market conditions vary widely between North and South.

He said: For sellers, the message is clear – well-priced homes are still finding buyers in the same time as last year across much of the country. For buyers, mortgage rates are drifting lower and there is greater choice of homes for sale. The best-value homes are moving quickly, particularly in northern cities and Scotland whereas the room for negotiation is greater across southern regions.