Rightmove reveals 2026 market trends as prices predicted to rise by 2%
December 18, 2025
- Rightmove reveals the trends it expects to take place across the 2026 housing market
- Prices are predicted to rise nationally by 2% after an unexpected fall of 0.6% in 2025, but regional variations are expected:
- Lower priced Scotland, Wales and north of England to be more resilient on price next year, while London and the south of England expected to lag behind
- Those who paused their plans due to Budget uncertainty are expected to pick up again after Christmas and join Rightmove’s traditional Boxing Day bounce in home-moving activity
- Some first-time buyers could take advantage of 2026 market conditions, with good choice of available homes for sale, average wage growth outpacing property prices and lower mortgage rates
- More sluggish top-end of market anticipated next year, though there is a degree of post-Budget relief
The UK’s largest property platform Rightmove shares its forecast for the 2026 housing market.
Rightmove’s forecast is based on data covering more than 90% of the market, and utilises a house price predictive model, powered by millions of supply, demand and pricing data points, as well as insights from a panel of Rightmove experts.
Rightmove’s housing data and market insights help bring clarity to home-movers, agents and lenders, particularly when the market is adjusting to economic or policy change.
What will happen to house prices in 2026?
- Rightmove predicts that new seller asking prices will rise by 2% by the end of 2026, after an unexpected fall in 2025 of 0.6%
- 2025 was a tale of two halves, with Budget-related gloom dampening the second half of the year after an encouraging first half
- Rightmove predicts that the 2026 market will be closer to the second half of this year than the first, with improved buyer affordability and good choice of homes for sale supporting stronger market activity, and leading to a modest price increase of +2%
How will the market vary regionally?
- Great Britain is made up of lots of hyper-local markets which often perform very differently, depending on factors such as affordability, supply and demand, or the effects of any government policies
- While Rightmove expects very moderate price growth overall next year, Wales, Scotland and northern England are forecast to perform more strongly than London and the south of England due to affordability and the balance between supply and demand
- The market is multi-layered, and many other factors are likely to affect price trends in 2026, from the type and style of the property to its finishings. In 2025, large homes, particularly detached homes performed more strongly, while smaller properties, especially flats, saw slower price growth
| Region | Rightmove price forecast 2026 |
| Great Britain | +2% |
| London | +1% |
| Scotland | +3% |
| Wales | +3% |
All eyes on the Boxing Day and post-Budget bounce?
- Each year, we typically see a ‘bounce’ in activity from a quieter Christmas Day and into a busier Boxing Day and new year. The start of the year is a popular time to get moving, and we see people getting their journey started as soon as the Christmas festivities are out of the way
- As well as the usual group of movers we’d typically expect to come to market from Boxing Day, this year we also have those who have put their plans on hold over the last few months due to Budget uncertainty
- Our survey of over 10,000 potential movers showed 1 in 5 were waiting to see the outcome of the Budget before resuming their moving plans. We expect many of these Budget-pausers that can afford to will become Boxing Day-bouncers as they get their plans going again
Who will be the biggest winner from the 2026 market?
- Rightmove predicts that some first-time buyers could take advantage of 2026 market conditions
- We anticipate that average wage growth will outpace house price growth, improving buyer affordability, while many first-time buyers will also benefit from being able to borrow more due to Loan-To-Income and stress rate changes
- The high number of available homes for sale will mean it continues to be buyer’s market in 2026, giving first-time buyers more negotiating power
- While rents are still at record levels, yearly rent rises have been slowing, which is some help for those would-be first-time buyers saving up their deposit. If first-time buyers can get their deposit together, they may find a mortgage cheaper than their rent, particularly if the Budget’s 2% increase in property taxes for landlords is passed onto tenants
- However, these more favourable conditions do not remove the challenges facing first-time buyers. Many will likely still rely on the Bank of Mum and Dad to help with their deposit, and first-time buyers in the south of England are still adjusting to higher stamp duty charges. Mortgage rates also remain high, despite their downward trend
Who will find the 2026 market more challenging?
- Though many rumoured taxes never came to fruition in November’s Budget, a new Mansion Tax for homes valued at £2 million or higher did make the cut
- The new tax means that owners of homes valued at £2 million or more will pay an annual charge from April 2028, starting at £2,500, escalating to £7,500 for homes valued at £5 million or over
- Because the tax recurs annually, there are long-term implications for both existing owners and potential buyers, which could lead to some sluggishness and volatility at the very top end of the market next year
- However, Rightmove’s data shows this is a very small proportion of the market. Around 1% of homes are currently priced above £2 million and less than 0.5% of sales that take place are in this price bracket
- Sellers keen to find a buyer quickly may also choose to reduce their price, either to drop below the £2 million threshold if very close to it, or by enough to cover their buyer’s annual charge
Colleen Babcock, Rightmove’s property expert says: “2026 will be a mix of some key property market themes continuing, and other new trends emerging. We expect many of those who put their moving plans on hold over the last few months will pick them back up again from Boxing Day and into the new year, now the Budget is out the way. We predict the market will look and feel very different depending on which area of Great Britain you’re in, and the type of property you’re looking to sell or buy, with big differences particularly between the south of England and the rest of Great Britain. The market conditions next year will favour typical first-time buyers over those at the top-end of the market.”
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