Industry Response to latest Nationwide House Price Index
Nationwide House Price Index for October 2025, with the latest figures showing no Halloween haunting for homebuyers where house price growth is concerned – despite widespread talks of Autumn Budget uncertainty hitting the market.
The latest index shows that: –
- House prices increased by 0.3% between September and October of this year.
- On an annual basis, the average house price increased by 2.4%, up from a 2.2% annual rate of growth in August.
- As a result, the average UK house price now sits at £272,226.
Thoughts from the Industry:
Nathan Emerson, CEO at Propertymark, comments:
“As the year continues to unfold, we have seen challenges and achievements in almost equal measure. It is positive for those on the housing ladder to see them accumulate more equity. However, the flip side is that it remains ever more demanding for first-time buyers to attain a foothold on their housing journey.
“Three base rate dips have helped increase consumer affordability; however, we still have a rate of inflation that is near double what the Bank of England is hoping for. We have seen Stamp Duty threshold changes disrupting sales trends for those in England and Northern Ireland earlier this year, and we now have the Autumn Budget just around the corner which may influence the smooth flow of property transactions, with many people holding out to see what changes may potentially be announced.”
Guy Gittins, CEO of Foxtons, commented:
“The latest Nationwide figures suggest that the housing market momentum has remained steady, with further upward price growth on both a monthly and annual basis reflecting cautious confidence within the market.
With inflation holding firm at 3.8% for the third consecutive month, the prospect of a base rate cut before Christmas remains on the table. This will only help to boost current market sentiment, so any ‘wait-and-see’ approach adopted by buyers ahead of the upcoming Autumn Budget is likely to be short lived.
As the year closes out, we expect market activity to strengthen in line with traditional seasonal trends, as motivated buyers and sellers push to complete before year-end or start 2026 on a positive footing.”
Verona Frankish, CEO of Yopa, commented:
“A double treat for homeowners this Halloween, with house prices up on both a monthly and annual basis and no sign yet of an Autumn Budget-induced trick.
The market may not be moving at the speed of previous years, but this steady upward momentum underlines the strength of demand that continues to drive values higher.”
Director of Benham and Reeves, Marc von Grundherr, commented:
“Homeowners may have been expecting a Halloween fright with house prices easing as a result of Autumn Budget uncertainty, but this simply hasn’t been the case.
The UK property market continues to demonstrate the remarkable resilience that has been the theme throughout this year, with buyers still motivated and transaction activity holding firm.
London, in particular, remains an ever-present source of strength, proving that even in the face of political and economic jitters, the capital’s market refuses to be spooked.”
Shepherd Ncube, CEO of Springbok Properties, commented:
“House price growth continues to creep up, but many home sellers are still being haunted by prolonged transaction timelines and market instability, which are leading to a great number of sales falling through.
The Autumn Budget will be vital in providing stability to the housing market, but it will do little to help those in need of a fast, reliable sale before Christmas.”
Daniel Austin, CEO and co-founder at ASK Partners, said:
“Today’s modest rise in property prices offers a welcome hint of optimism, but the market remains in ‘wait-and-see’ mode ahead of the Autumn Statement. The Bank of England’s decision to hold rates brings some reassurance, yet persistently high borrowing costs and ongoing policy uncertainty continue to weigh on both buyers and developers. Fixed mortgage rates remain elevated, delaying meaningful relief for homeowners and first-time buyers.”
“Developers, meanwhile, are grappling with rising build costs, tighter debt markets, and planning delays, factors that render many projects financially unviable despite recent government moves to cut affordable housing requirements and streamline planning. These are positive steps, but without broader demand-side measures, such as stamp duty reform, first-time buyer support, and incentives for off-plan purchases, momentum is likely to remain subdued.
“Investors are focusing on long-term fundamentals. Resilient segments such as build-to-rent, co-living, and storage continue to attract capital thanks to a persistent supply-demand imbalance, even as overall market activity cools. Against a backdrop of global volatility and shifting domestic policy, UK real estate debt remains a compelling proposition, offering capital preservation, steady income, and protection from equity market swings.”
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