The common price ticket on a house edged down by £12 month-on-month in February following a file soar of almost £10,000 in January, in line with a property web site.
Throughout Britain, the common asking worth for a house coming in the marketplace in February is £368,019, Rightmove mentioned.
In January, the common price ticket on a house was £368,031.
Rightmove beforehand mentioned the £9,893 common asking worth enhance seen in January 2026 was the largest for the month of January in its 25 years of home worth research.
Over the previous decade, asking costs in February have usually elevated by 0.8% month-on-month.
However regardless of the common asking worth standstill in February, January’s file asking worth enhance for the time of 12 months implies that 2026 remains to be the strongest begin to a 12 months for asking costs since 2020, with costs up by 2.8% since December, Rightmove mentioned.
It mentioned early 12 months worth progress was front-loaded into January as confidence rebounded after a protracted interval of uncertainty surrounding the autumn finances.
Colleen Babcock, property skilled at Rightmove, mentioned: “Nearly flat costs in February actually must be considered alongside what occurred in January.
“After the extended uncertainty within the run as much as the late November finances, plus the standard Christmas slowdown, we noticed exercise choose up once more from Boxing Day.
“Many sellers, a few of whom had been holding again due to the finances, got here to market in early 2026 with renewed confidence, which helped to drive that bumper January worth rise.
“However the market fundamentals haven’t modified. There are nonetheless a number of properties on the market, and shopping for exercise isn’t as sturdy as this time final 12 months, when many consumers had been speeding to maneuver earlier than the stamp obligation enhance in England.
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“So in February, sellers have taken a extra cautious strategy by holding onto January’s beneficial properties somewhat than pushing costs greater, at a time when competitors is excessive and the market remains to be very price-sensitive.”
Rightmove mentioned that, this time final 12 months, a looming stamp obligation deadline on the finish of March was affecting the market in England, as consumers rushed to finish gross sales.
It mentioned that, in contrast with 2024, present tendencies look stronger.
The variety of newly listed properties on the market is 11% greater than two years in the past, whereas the variety of gross sales agreed is 9% greater than right now in 2024.
Ms Babcock added: “2026 is shaping as much as be a very good 12 months to purchase. Over the past three years common wages are up by round 17%, considerably outstripping property costs that are up by simply 1.5% over the identical interval.
“A extra beneficial mortgage fee and lending atmosphere are each additionally serving to to enhance purchaser affordability. For many who are prepared to maneuver quickly, February may provide a helpful window of alternative to behave earlier than the height spring promoting season, when costs often rise.”
Matt Smith, a mortgage skilled at Rightmove, mentioned: “Final 12 months’s overview of the loan-to-income cap and reminder to lenders about stress testing flexibility by the FCA (Monetary Conduct Authority), have had the meant optimistic consequence of enabling the everyday purchaser to borrow extra.
“On prime of this, there continues to be a robust focus from lenders on serving to first-time consumers, with many lenders creating new merchandise to assist eligible consumers to borrow bigger sums.”
Craig Webster, managing director, Tiger Gross sales & Lettings in Blackpool, mentioned: “Sellers have gotten extra real looking as competitors stays excessive, however demand stays resilient.
“For consumers, situations are bettering. Mortgage charges are trending down, lenders are more and more aggressive and importantly wage progress has outpaced home worth progress in current intervals, serving to affordability.”
He added: “As we head into the busy spring market, those that are ready and decisive are more likely to be within the strongest place.”
Katie Griffin, director at Sawdye & Harris in Dartmoor, mentioned: “Spring is all the time our busiest time, and I feel we’ll see improved exercise if sellers proceed to cost sensibly. There’s real purchaser demand on the market – folks have simply been ready for the best second and the best property on the proper worth.”
The report was launched as analysis from property agency Savills estimated the overall worth of properties throughout the UK now stands at £9.18 trillion.
It took into consideration the overall worth of properties owned outright, with a mortgage, social housing and the non-public rented sector.
The overall worth of the UK’s housing inventory grew by a further £136 billion in 2025 however this was smaller than £268 billion added in worth the 12 months earlier than, Savills mentioned.
Lucian Cook dinner, head of residential analysis at Savills, mentioned: “Though the overall worth of UK housing has continued to edge up over the previous 12 months, the capital appreciation of £336 billion for the reason that finish of 2022 is the bottom we now have seen for a three-year interval since 2013.
“That partly displays the preliminary strain placed on costs as mortgage prices rose over the course of 2023.
“However equally the housing market has been gradual to answer current cuts in (the Financial institution of England) base fee.
“This mixed with an absence of worth progress throughout London and the South East, the place values are highest, and falling ranges of home constructing has saved a lid on the combination quantity.”
Regardless of the North of England and the devolved nations accounting for under 27% of the worth of all UK properties, they’ve contributed 60% of whole progress since 2022, Savills mentioned.
It mentioned the highest performing area is the North West, which has seen the overall worth of its housing inventory enhance by £63 billion since 2022.
