House prices across the UK soared by a staggering 5.4 percent in the year up to February, and now you can check house prices in your area using our interactive map. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), this marks the quickest growth rate in more than two years, with the average price in England hitting £292,000.
In Scotland, prices climbed by 5.7 percent to £186,000, while they jumped in Wales by 4.1 percent to £207,000. Data covering October to December 2024 showed a notable nine percent surge in house prices across Northern Ireland, with the average cost working out as £183,000. It follows increased buyer activity since last year which is likely fuelled by customers aiming to complete purchases in a bid to avoid April stamp duty increases.
This month, first-time buyers started paying the tax on properties costing more than £300,000, which was previously set at the higher threshold of £425,000. Sarah Coles, head of personal finance at Hargreaves Lansdown, stated that February’s figures showed the “peak of activity, as buyers rushed purchases through the system before the stamp duty holiday ran out at the end of the month.”
Amanda Bryden, head of mortgages at Halifax, pointed out the challenges of affordability for many potential buyers but highlighted the marketâs resilience as noteworthy. She said: “Thereâs strong demand for new mortgages and growth in lending. With a stamp duty increase looming, some of this demand may have come from first-time buyers eager to complete transactions before the end of March.”
Bryden suggests other key indicators appear optimistic for the housing market, as she added: “The Bank of England has made its first base rate cut of the year, and there are probably more to come. Household earnings are expected to continue outpacing inflation â albeit that gap may narrow â easing some of the financial pressure still being felt from the cost-of-living squeeze.”
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Recent data has suggested that prospective homeowners in the UK need to earn £53,600 a year in order to be able to afford the average home, assuming that they have the standard minimum deposit of 10 percent. Thatâs less trouble for higher earners or couples who are both on the average salary, but bad news for anyone reliant on just one person earning the countryâs average income. The average full-time salary in the UK was £37,856 a year in 2024, which is £15,744 less than whatâs required to buy the average home.
Whether you’re planning a move or just curious about local property prices, our interactive map shows the house prices in each area of the country. Just enter your postcode below to find out whether property prices near you are rising or falling:
It comes as Zoopla reports a 67 percent disparity between the average UK flat price, standing at £191,300, and the typical house value. This growing gap could pose a challenge for some home buyers, particularly those looking to make their second purchase after their first home.
According to the property website, flats currently make up about a quarter of all homes on the market, with the early weeks of 2025 seeing a significant surge in the number of flats listed for sale. Over the last five years, the average value of a flat has grown by seven percent, whereas the average house price has soared by 24 percent.
Richard Donnell, Zoopla’s executive director, commented: “Buyers are still prioritising houses over flats but there are opportunities for canny buyers prepared to do their homework and weigh up the purchase of a flat rather than potentially waiting longer to buy a house.
“While market activity is on the rise we expect house price growth to be kept in check over 2025. There has been a sizeable increase in homes for sale in the early weeks of the year which is giving buyers greater choice and stronger negotiating power.”
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