Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at 6:18 PM
Existing-home sales rose by 5.1% in December, marking the largest gain in nearly two years, although 2025 was characterized as a challenging year for homebuyers due to high prices and low sales.
Sales edged down to 737,000 in October last year, from 738,000 in September, but up from a downwardly revised 711,000 in August.
U.K. house prices are expected to rise in 2026, with Scotland and Northern England showing the strongest growth and sales prospects, according to real-estate website Zoopla.
Average asking prices rose 2.8%, according to Rightmove data, suggesting market sentiment is rebounding following the volatility sparked by the U.K. budget.
Google searches for “No Buy January” have hit a five-year high as Gen-Zers and millennials sign up for the thrifty challenge.
