Will House Prices Rise, Fall, or Stay the Same in 2026?
We love our jobs so much that not even Christmas can stop us thinking about the property market.
So why not sit down with a turkey sandwich or a Quality Street (or two) and look at where house prices might go in 2026?
It’s been a whirlwind year for the property market.
A tricky economy, some unexpected interest rate decisions, all topped off by a very interesting Budget, have seen to that.
2026 – What the experts think
In 2025, property prices continued to rise, if only moderately. Official stats from the UK House Price Index* show that average national house prices rose by 2.6% over the last year.
Looking ahead, here are what some national experts think:
- In their pre-Budget report, the Government’s Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecast house prices will rise 2.5% on average in 2026.**
- Posh agents Knight Frank think average prices will rise by 3% in 2026. And by 18.7% over the next five years. ***
- Economic gurus Capital Economics forecast average prices will rise 2.5-3.0%. ****
2026 – What we think
We’re not afraid to say it. We believe in telling it like it is. It’s going to be trickier to call the property market in 2026 than at any time for years.
There are so many varied factors at play: The economy. Inflation. Wages and jobs. Tax. The cost of living.
It will take a while for the impact of November’s Budget to feed through.
But the fact is, there’s still a housing shortage. There are more would-be buyers out there than places to buy. That’s going to support prices no matter what happens.
Property prices are stable at the moment. That could make it a good time for buyers to jump in, free from wild fluctuations.
Will the AREA market buck the trend?
Forecasts are just that, forecasts. Sometimes, they’re out by a country mile.
National average price stats are just that, national averages. What a home is worth depends on what it offers buyers and the area it’s in (and even the actual street).
If you need a valuation on your house or flat, it’s vital to take advice from someone who walks, talks, and knows the local streets inside and out.
And believe us, we know every street, lane, avenue, close, way and crescent around these parts. (We’ve had the blisters and the pothole-buckled wheels to prove it.)
If you’re thinking of selling in 2026 and you’d like an accurate market valuation on your property (and great, local marketing advice), give us a call.
Enjoy the rest of Christmas and have a very happy New Year.
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Buying and selling the ethical way
We are proud members of the Ethical Agent Network (EAN).
A national group of independent agents who have been independently assessed to ensure we meet strict standards of honesty, service, professionalism, and community care.
To find out more about what we do and why we passed the EAN and are the only local agency in the network, contact us today.
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