Related topic: Housing market

The average mortgage rate dropped by 39 basis points from the previous month to 4.35%.

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

Gross mortgage lending is forecast to reach £320bn in 2026 and £350bn in 2027.

This is 1.8% or two days more than in 2024.

Market activity was influenced by stamp duty changes that took effect at the beginning of April, but overall remained close to pre-pandemic levels.

Slight easing in affordability pressures helped to underpin buyer demand in 2025, Nationwide says.

Rightmove is expecting a bigger 'Boxing Day bounce', with prices to rise 2% next year.

The trade body predicts a 10% rise in external remortgaging and 2% rise in product transfers.

OPDA says the review gives brokers a "unique opportunity to deliver transformational change".

Transaction volumes are forecast to rise in 2027, before dipping back in 2028 as political uncertainty ahead of the 2029 election leads to a pause.