Anna Lewis, commercial director at Castle Trust Bank, takes a look back at a 'mixed' 2024 for property investors, but why there is reason for cautious optimism in 2025.

House prices are now just 1% below their all-time peak.

Transactions are up 21% year-on-year as housing supply increases and mortgage rates fall.

The housing market has returned to growth with house price growth now positive across all regions and countries.

An overwhelming 95% of property professionals expressed doubt that the new government target of 1.5 million new homes for this current parliament will be achieved.

20% say a fluctuating income means they’ve had to push back their property ownership ambitions.

The North East was the English region with the highest house price inflation.

This is the second month in a row that new seller pricing has fallen more than the norm.

68% of renters are eager to take on fixer-uppers to help get on the housing ladder, compared to 54% of home-owners.

The estate agent expects London to start outperforming other regions for the first time since 2015.