The UK property market is enjoying its strongest start to a year since 2022, according to new research from estate agent comparison site GetAgent.co.uk.
Analysis of HMRC and Bank of England data shows that both residential transactions and mortgage approvals have reached their highest average monthly levels in three years, signalling renewed momentum in a market that had been subdued by economic uncertainty and higher interest rates.
Between January and June 2025, a total of 623,500 residential transactions were recorded across the UK, alongside 383,194 mortgage approvals for home purchases.
That equates to monthly averages of 103,917 and 63,866 respectively – the most active the market has been in the first half of a year since 2022.
BUYER CONFIDENCE RESURGANCE
For comparison, the same period in 2024 saw an average of 87,912 transactions per month and 60,132 mortgage approvals. In 2023, those figures were 86,772 and 48,003, highlighting how far market activity has recovered in just 12 months.
Although current levels remain marginally below those recorded in 2022 — when monthly averages stood at 108,197 transactions and 67,666 mortgage approvals — the data points to a clear resurgence in buyer confidence.
“Inflation continues to ease and interest rates show signs of stabilising.”
The uptick comes as inflation continues to ease and interest rates show signs of stabilising, encouraging more buyers and sellers back into the market.
Agents and lenders have reported a noticeable increase in enquiries since spring, with transaction pipelines growing steadily as mortgage approvals return to pre-2023 levels.
If momentum continues into the second half of the year, 2025 could mark a turning point for a housing market still adjusting to a post-pandemic, higher-rate environment.
STRONG PERFORMANCE
Colby Short, Co-founder and Chief Executive of GetAgent, says: “The market is on course to post its strongest performance in a number of years, with a heightened level of transactions driven by consistently strong buyer appetites.
“While the stamp duty deadline did influence early activity, causing a notable surge in homes sold in the run-up, this was followed by a temporary dip in April.”
BUYER APPETITE
And he adds: “What’s more telling is that mortgage approvals have remained consistently strong throughout the year to date, suggesting plenty of buyer appetite to drive transactions through the remainder of the year.
“From the thousands of conversations our Client Services team has with home sellers each week, it’s clear many remain confident in the market, with about half of the introductions we facilitate proceeding to list within six months.
“All signs point to a sustained period of confidence and momentum in the housing market throughout 2025.”
