Rightmove’s December House Price Index reveals a familiar seasonal slowdown in asking prices – but this year’s dip comes with a strong note of optimism for 2026. With improving affordability, easing mortgage rates and renewed confidence following the Autumn Budget, Rightmove is forecasting a bigger-than-usual Boxing Day bounce and a 2% rise in asking prices next year.
December Sees a Larger Seasonal Price Drop
The average price of property coming to market fell by 1.8% (-£6,695) in December, bringing the national average asking price to £358,138. While prices typically fall in December, this year’s decline is steeper than the ten-year average drop of 1.4%.
As a result, average asking prices end 2025 0.6% lower than a year ago, a decrease of £2,059. Regional performance varied, with prices rising most strongly in the North West (+2.6%), remaining flat in London (0.0%), and falling most in the South West (-2.7%).
Market Cooled by Budget Uncertainty
The second half of 2025 was noticeably more subdued, largely due to uncertainty and speculation surrounding potential property tax changes ahead of November’s Budget. This uncertainty weighed on both activity and pricing, amplifying the usual seasonal slowdown.
Rightmove’s data highlights a clear contrast between the two halves of the year:
Despite this slowdown, overall market performance remained resilient, with the total number of sales agreed still 3% higher than in 2024.
Early Signs of a Post-Budget Rebound
Now that the Budget is behind us, early signs of renewed confidence are already emerging. In London, where speculation had the biggest impact, the number of new top-end sellers rose by 24% week-on-week immediately after the Budget.
Rightmove’s research also shows that nearly one in five potential movers paused their plans while waiting for Budget clarity. Many of these sellers and buyers are now expected to re-enter the market, boosting activity over the festive period and into early January.
A Bigger Than Usual Boxing Day Bounce
Rightmove is anticipating a stronger-than-normal “Boxing Day Bounce” this year. Traditionally, Boxing Day marks the unofficial start of the busiest home-moving season, with buyers and sellers returning to the market after Christmas.
With a backlog of listings waiting to launch and renewed confidence following the Budget, Rightmove expects a surge in activity as people browse new homes and plan for the year ahead.
Improved Affordability Supports a Positive 2026 Outlook
Looking ahead, Rightmove predicts that average new seller asking prices will rise by 2% in 2026, with market conditions more closely resembling the encouraging first half of 2025 than the more cautious second half.
Several factors are supporting this outlook:
These conditions are expected to kick-start a strong rebound in activity at the beginning of 2026.
What This Means for Buyers and Sellers
While confidence is improving, Rightmove cautions that sellers will still need to price realistically. High levels of buyer choice mean that well-presented, competitively priced homes will perform best, while over-optimistic pricing may continue to struggle.
A more stable economic environment in 2026 would further boost buyer confidence, supporting steady activity levels and modest price growth throughout the year.
In Summary
After a year that felt like two very different markets, the outlook for 2026 is cautiously optimistic – with momentum building as the market heads into the new year.
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