Activity is now broadly comparable with early 2024, though it remains almost 9% lower than the unusually strong opening to last year, when transactions were accelerated ahead of stamp duty changes

Buyer activity has picked up at the start of 2026 as confidence improves and mortgage pricing edges down, while a larger pool of properties on the market is changing the balance of power between buyers and sellers.

According to Zoopla’s latest UK House Price Index, demand from purchasers has strengthened since the turn of the year, following a subdued close to 2025 when many households deferred moving decisions amid uncertainty over the autumn Budget.

Activity is now broadly comparable with early 2024, though it remains almost 9% lower than the unusually strong opening to last year, when transactions were accelerated ahead of stamp duty changes.

Competitive mortgage pricing is supporting this recovery in sentiment. The average five-year fixed rate at 75% loan-to-value has dropped to 4%, its lowest level since 2022, improving affordability and bringing more prospective buyers back into the market.

However, those returning are facing a very different landscape to 12 months ago. The total number of homes listed for sale is 6% higher than a year earlier, with estate agents now holding the largest stock of properties for eight years. This additional supply is reducing bidding pressure and putting greater weight on accurate pricing and presentation for vendors seeking committed buyers.

Across the UK, price movements remain modest. Average values increased by 1.2% over the 12 months to the end of 2025, a rise of around £3,200, taking the typical UK house price to £269,800. Growth has been stronger in more affordable markets in the Midlands, northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, where values have risen up to four times faster than the national rate. By contrast, small price declines of nearly 0.1% have been recorded across the South East and South West.

Southern England continues to show greater price sensitivity as higher absolute purchase costs and a larger volume of stock weigh on negotiations. London now has significantly more homes on the market than a year ago, reinforcing a buyers’ market in the capital and contributing to price declines over 2025.