After a subdued end to 2025, the first quarter of 2026 has quietly rebuilt confidence in the housing market. March may be the strategic launch point sellers have been waiting for.

Average house prices grab the headlines, yet they only tell part of the story. Looking at price per square foot reveals what buyers are truly paying for space. The 2025 figures show sharp regional contrasts, highlighting how the same budget can deliver vastly different lifestyles depending on where you buy.

In 2025, £344bn was spent on property across Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Follow the money and the market’s geography becomes clear. Some regions dominate, others quietly punch above their weight. It’s a powerful reminder that the UK property market isn’t one story, but many regional economies moving at different speeds.

January 2026 showed a market regaining momentum. Across much of the UK, sales agreed are running ahead of two years ago, led by the Midlands and East. Scotland and Wales are also strengthening. London remains mixed, and Northern Ireland softer. This is not a boom, but a steady, broad based rebuild driven by realistic pricing.