Our latest article discusses the most in-demand places to live in the UK right now.
Total buyer demand may be down within the last month compared to the same period last year, but mortgage rates have lowered since their April peak.
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Rightmove property expert, Colleen Babcock, has this to say about the current market:
“In this kind of market, sellers need to work harder to attract attention. Setting a competitive asking price from the outset is key, as buyers are taking more time to compare options and are quick to move on if a home doesn’t stand out on value.
“It’s encouraging to see another slight reduction in average mortgage rates this month, which is a small step in the right direction for affordability and market sentiment. While rates remain elevated, even modest changes can make a difference to buyers’ budgets and confidence.”
Which areas of the UK are considered ‘one to watch’ and ‘up and coming’?
Taking a look across the UK, here is a breakdown of average sales prices from the Land Registry each year, up to June 2026. If you are considering investing in property, the following locations are some of the most exciting and up-and-coming areas on the market right now:
| Region |
Local Authority |
2025 |
2026 |
YoY change |
| North West |
Preston |
£187,180 |
£214,840 |
14.8% |
| East Midlands |
Amber Valley |
£259,070 |
£294,610 |
13.7% |
| Wales |
Caerphilly |
£198,700 |
£217,730 |
9.6% |
| North West |
West Lancashire |
£257,500 |
£281,650 |
9.4% |
| Wales |
Bridgend |
£223,770 |
£244,670 |
9.3% |
| South East |
Adur |
£389,720 |
£422,670 |
8.5% |
| Wales |
Isle of Anglesey |
£242,790 |
£259,750 |
7.0% |
| London |
Waltham Forest |
£539,550 |
£570,740 |
5.8% |
| Wales |
Carmarthenshire |
£207,850 |
£219,770 |
5.7% |
| East Midlands |
North West Leicestershire |
£273,050 |
£288,460 |
5.6% |
| North West |
Hyndburn |
£142,880 |
£150,180 |
5.1% |
| North West |
Stockport |
£331,940 |
£347,850 |
4.8% |
| West Midlands |
Tamworth |
£246,710 |
£257,110 |
4.2% |
| East Midlands |
Newark and Sherwood |
£261,910 |
£272,830 |
4.2% |
| North West |
Manchester |
£267,520 |
£278,350 |
4.0% |
Source: Connells Group & Land Registry*
When is the best time to sell?
With summer often being one of the busiest times on the property market and a great time to sell, you may be wondering whether that’s the same for this year.
When it comes to sales agreed, the market is showing some reassuring resilience. While figures are running 6% below last year, it is well worth putting that into context. We are broadly in line with recent years, virtually on a par with 2024 and a healthy 5% ahead of 2023.
Although the market may be somewhat slower with the average asking price being £376,191 (a -0.6% monthly change), the buyers who are in the market are more determined to buy and want to be sure that they’re buying a home that suits their needs.
When we look at the bigger picture across the UK, property price growth has eased compared to previous years in every region. London has seen a slight dip, with prices edging down by 0.2%, whilst the real story of resilience is unfolding further north.
The North is very much holding its own, with both the North West and North East leading the charge at +3.5% year-on-year growth. Scotland is not far behind either, posting a healthy +3.0% increase over the same period.
