Prices hit record high as properties sell at fastest pace ever recorded
April 19, 2021
- National average price of property coming to market hits a new all-time high of £327,797, following a 2.1% (+£6,733) monthly jump
- Encouragingly, 145,000 properties were newly marketed this month, but not enough to meet buyer demand:
- Number of sales agreed up by 55% on same period two years ago, reducing the stock of properties that are available to buy to the lowest proportion ever recorded
- Buying frenzy for new stock, with both the average number of days to sell a property reaching its lowest ever level, and the number of houses selling within a week reaching its highest ever level
- Mass market of two- and three-bedroom semi-detached homes selling fastest
- March saw time spent on Rightmove surpass two billion minutes in one month for the first time
- Although some of the froth is likely to come off the market later in the year once some government economic measures end, we expect activity to remain robust for the rest of 2021
A monthly price surge of 2.1% (+£6,733) has propelled new seller asking prices to a new record high, with the national average now standing at £327,797. This figure shatters the previous record, set in October last year, by over £4,000. The big jump comes as buyer demand sets another new record, chasing the lowest ever proportion of property available to buy. This is now the fastest-selling market that Rightmove has measured since our records began.
You May Also Enjoy
The First-Time Buyer Reality Shock
The First-Time Buyer Confidence Gap: 90% Feel Prepared, 71% Get an Unpleasant Surprise The First-Time Buyer Anxiety Index unveils a major ‘confidence gap’ which leaves first-time buyers unprepared for the realities of getting on the property ladder. Nine in 10 first-time buyers believe they are prepared and understand the home buying process before they begin…
Read More 
£50k hit when climbing the property ladder
The average homeowner in England faces an estimated £15,513 in associated costs when upsizing their home, according to the latest research by Yopa. However, in London this figure climbs as high as £47,704. The full-service estate agency analysed the estimated cost of upsizing across England, based on selling an average flat or terraced home and…
Read More 
Conveyancing causes more stress than property chains
The latest research by Lyons Bowe has found that 42% of recent homebuyers say conveyancing is the biggest barrier to a smooth property transaction, compared with just 19% who point to property chains. The survey of 1,000 recent homebuyers* examined which aspects of the transaction process had presented the biggest barriers to a smooth journey,…
Read More
Britain’s most competitive summer rental hotspots
New analysis from the UK’s largest property platform Rightmove has revealed the areas where renters faced the strongest competition this summer, with several North West towns emerging as the toughest places to secure a home Wallasey and Birkenhead in Merseyside were Britain’s joint most competitive rental market during July and August, with an average of…
Read More 
The 5 tasks lettings agents won’t trust to AI
AI must make lettings more human, not less, and that requires real rental intelligence. The latest research from Propoly has found that letting industry professionals see a clear role for AI in property management, but are reluctant to let it operate without human oversight, particularly when decisions involve people, complex circumstances or potentially significant consequences. Propoly…
Read More 
Foxtons Lettings Market Index – August 2026
The busiest weeks arrived earlier than usual, with activity spread more evenly across the summer due to implementation of the RRA • Renter registrations eased 3.0% in August. Along with July, it was still the peak of 2026, finishing off the summer rush just below July’s levels. • Competition for available property rose 22.4% in…
Read More