Zoopla: In May, the rate of sales reached a four-year high, while house prices slowed to 114 percent

According to Zoopla, the average UK property now costs £268,400, although price growth is significantly higher in some regions than others

According to the Zooplas House Price Index, the number of properties for sale rose by 6% over the previous 12 months, causing house price growth to slow to 1 percent in May from 1 percent in April.

In the UK, the average house now costs 268,400, which is a 3,960-year increase.

Nevertheless, the market's price increases have not been uniform across all price points. According to the data, home prices have continued to decline in higher value markets while growing more quickly in more affordable areas.

In May, prices in areas where average property values are over £500,000 fell by a modest -0.2 percent, while prices in areas where average property values are less than £200,000 increased by 20.7 percent, which is significantly higher than the national average.

This graph illustrates how home values in higher-value markets are declining.

Since more people can afford to purchase a property for less than £200,000 than one for over £500,000, supply and demand will drive up prices. This is primarily due to affordability considerations.

However, outside of this, Zoopla claims that policy and tax changes targeted at second homeowners and landlords (like the April 2025 stamp duty increase) are causing demand to decline and these owners to sell more.

Zoopla's executive director, Richard Donnell, stated that the increase in sales year over year "demonstrates a continued desire of more households to move home in 2025."

Still, 22% of all properties for sale have been for more than six months.

It may take a while for many sellers to reach their desired price when they sell their house, even though they will have a price in mind.

In order to avoid being forced to wait months for a buyer, Zoopla has advised sellers to get guidance on how to appropriately price their house and accomplish a timely sale.

While buyers are still "price-sensitive," particularly in higher-value markets, "serious sellers need to be realistic on where they set their asking price in order to achieve a sale and secure a home move in 2025," according to Donnell of Zoopla.

Fraser Reeves estate agent Sarah Cartlidge, branch manager, agrees, stating that "property price remains key to agreeing a sale."

"In order to secure a good buyer in good time, and to make the best first impression possible when their property hits the market," she advises potential sellers, "need to price positively and realistically from the get-go."

Where is the fastest growth in home prices occurring?

Parts of Scotland and north-west England have seen annual increases in property prices of 3 to 5 percent, which continues to outpace the national average.

Wigan, a town located just north of Manchester, is the locality with the fastest-growing house prices. Over the past year, the number of homes in the area has increased by 4.3 percent.

Blackburn, which is also north of Manchester, has seen a 3.6 percent increase in property prices in the past year, while Failkirk, in Scotland's central lowlands, has seen a 3.8 percent increase.

However, growth has been considerably slower in London and the south of England, where home prices have even dropped in recent years.

In the past year, west central London real estate prices have dropped by 4 points, and west London homes have dropped by 1 point.

In certain parts of the southwest, home values are also declining. While the average price of a home in Truro has decreased by 1.3 percent over the past year, properties in Torquay have seen a 1.7 percent decline in value.