Average UK house prices: last 3 months
The average house price in the UK is now £271,900. This is a rise of 1.50% or £4,030 over the past year.
Property type | Average house price February 2026 | Average house price March 2026 | Average house price April 2026 | Annual price change to April 2026 (£) | Annual price change to April 2026 (%) |
All property | £271,000 | £271,700 | £271,900 | £4,030 | 1.50% |
Flats/maisonettes | £192,400 | £192,500 | £193,000 | -£2,540 | -1.30% |
Terraced houses | £240,700 | £240,800 | £241,600 | £4,120 | 1.70% |
Semi-detached houses | £280,700 | £280,600 | £281,800 | £6,750 | 2.50% |
Detached houses | £457,000 | £456,800 | £458,700 | £7,480 | 1.70% |
First-time buyers: spending more, not settling for less
First-time buyers are targeting homes worth £10,000 more than a year ago, and they are not compromising on what they are buying.
It explains why UK house price inflation has edged higher this month, despite a market where overall buyer demand is running 10% below last year. Sales agreed are 1% up on last year as committed movers support sales.
Across the UK, first-time buyers are looking to buy homes priced at an average of £254,750. This is 4.3% higher than a year ago and nearly 3 times the headline rate of UK house price growth.
First-time buyers in Scotland are seeking homes priced 8% higher than last year, and 7% higher in the West Midlands. In London, the average price of a first-time buyer home is above £500,000 for the first time - with FTBs looking to pay £15,000 more than last year in a city where overall prices have not moved.
Fewer first-time buyers, same expectations
Our data shows first-time buyers are not compromising on what they buy.
Outside London, over half (53%) are looking to buy a 3-bed house, an identical proportion to last year.
In London, the mix is also unchanged, with more than half of first-time buyer enquiries to agents and builders (53%) focused on flats.
Matching the national picture, higher borrowing costs have led some first-time buyers in London to delay moving decisions and first-time buyer demand is 6% lower than last year. Those who remain active are not adjusting their expectations - they are holding out for the home they want and paying more to get it.
Despite the current uncertainty stemming from events in the Middle East, changes to mortgage affordability testing last year have made more homes accessible to first-time buyers.
This is pushing up entry-level prices, and this is feeding through into higher house price inflation across the market.We expect that trend to continue in the months ahead.
For anyone looking to buy their first home, the data suggests that waiting is unlikely to deliver lower prices or a better choice of homes.
One market, two very different stories
Sales agreed are running 1% higher than last year despite buyer demand being 10% lower. While browsers and those sensitive to higher borrowing costs have stepped back, buyers with a clear need to move have continued to make offers on homes, pushing sales higher.
This is not the first time buyer demand has declined while sales have held firm. It happened after the 2022 mini-budget and again in the run up to the Autumn Budget in 2025.
On both occasions, sales proved more resilient than changes in buyer demand. More homes coming to the market is giving buyers greater choice and suggests more households are pressing ahead despite increased uncertainty.
Prices rising - but not at the same pace everywhere
UK house prices are 1.5% higher than a year ago but this headline hides a market moving at very different speeds across the UK.
Across the North of England, Scotland and Wales prices are rising at 2% to 3.6%. These are more affordable markets where improved mortgage affordability has had the greatest impact on house prices.
In the North East, home sales are up 6% on last year despite buyer demand being 20% lower, the sharpest drop of any region. However there has been no increase in homes for sale, which means supply is being absorbed quickly - it explains above average price gains.
In London, sales agreed are up 8% on last year, the strongest of any region. This explains why house price inflation has stabilised after 6 consecutive months of modest price falls. However, with 13% more homes for sale than a year ago buyers still have plenty of choice and house price inflation is set to remain subdued.
For sellers in southern England, pricing correctly is the difference between moving and not moving this year.
Outlook for the second half of 2026
The housing market is holding up in the face of uncertainty and higher borrowing costs, though with fewer buyers than a year ago the outlook remains finely balanced.
The longer-term economic consequences of events in the Middle East on UK inflation, cost of living and mortgage rates are not clear and uncertainty remains looking into 2027. Average mortgage rates jumped from 4% at the start of the year to 5% in April. They have been drifting lower but look set to remain higher than the start of the year.
More sellers entering the market suggests households are pressing ahead despite the uncertain backdrop, which will support sales. House price inflation is set to hold steady at around 1.5%. Market conditions in the North will continue to be better than those in the South. However, sales and prices could be affected if mortgage rates rise or economic uncertainty weighs further on consumer confidence.
The most important point is that uncertainty cuts both ways. National trends can only tell you so much when deciding on when to sell your home and how to price it. Local market conditions vary widely across the country and by property type - it's important to understand the value of your home and seek advice before deciding to act or wait.
What should you do if you're moving?
The decision to act or wait looks different depending on your position in the market.
First-time buyers
Market conditions are better than they were 18 months ago. There is more choice of homes for sale, mortgage rates have fallen back in recent weeks and motivated sellers are negotiating.
However, some first-time buyers are holding back, shown in the fewer active numbers in the market. Speaking to a mortgage broker and understanding your affordability is essential as you plan your next move.
Home-movers
Well-priced homes are selling at the same speed as last year across most of the country but buyers continue to have a good choice of homes for sale across most markets.
It is essential to speak to an agent to get accurate pricing advice before you make an offer on a new property or list your home.
Sellers in London and the South
Buyers have more choice of homes for sale than a year ago and are taking longer to commit. Serious buyers are out there but they are more selective.
Pricing realistically is the key to attracting demand as overpriced homes sit on the market significantly longer and a price reduction later is more damaging than pricing correctly at the start.
About the Zoopla House Price Index
The Zoopla House Price Index (HPI) tracks the change in achieved sales price of homes (not asking prices). The index uses sold prices, mortgage valuations and data for recently agreed sales with more input data than any other index. The methodology is designed to accurately track the change in pricing for UK housing. It’s revisionary and non-seasonally adjusted.
Download the Zoopla House Price Index, May 2026 (PDF, 360kB)
Notes on this month’s data:
Overall buyer demand is running 10% below last year: 4 weeks to 17 May 2026 vs same period in 2025.
First-time buyer data on average prices and price changes is based on enquiries to estate agents and homebuilders in the 4 weeks to 17 May 2026 vs same period in 2025.
Average mortgage rates jumped from 4% at the start of the year to 5% in April: Average mortgage rate for a 75% loan to value 5-year fixed rate loan - Bank of England, Bankstats. Change in UK homes listed for sale versus last year: +3.4%.
Previous House Price Index reports
See more stories from our House Price Index