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Halifax House Price Index Feb 26

ended 05. March 2026

The Halifax House Price Index will land at 07:00 tomorrow morning. How have you found the residential property market to be in February? Busy, so-so, as quite as a domino? What are the key trends you're seeing and who's especially active, e.g. FTBs, landlords? And with mortgage rates now headed up on the back of the Middle East war, are you expecting things to cool down or for demand to remain resilient? Views by 22:00 tonight please as writing this story first thing.

3 responses from the Newspage community

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Editor
Mike Staton
Director at Staton Mortgages
This market has been far more resillient than the doom-mongers predicted. Despite higher interest rates, global chaos, and a government that seems determined to make running the economy look like a game of darts blindfolded, UK house prices are still hovering around £300,000. This is because people still need homes, demand still exists and despite the government's manifesto promises, the UK still doesn't build enough houses. At a time where we need all guns blazing to kickstart our sluggish economy, the housing market looks like it can be the defibrillator. The abolition of stamp duty would send the housing market rocketing.
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Patricia Ogunfeibo
Founder & non-practicing Solicitor at tenant2owner
There’s a lot of ‘looking’ activity in the market, but a lot less ‘buying’. The market was beginning to pick up, but the war in Iran is going to put paid to that. We’ve already seen mortgage rates going up. Landlords who are determined to sell will not be deterred by any of this, which will present even more opportunities for savvy first-time buyers to pick up even better ‘bargains’.
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Nick Harris
Founding Director at Quarters
The market isn’t booming, but it’s definitely moving. Buyers are just far more disciplined on price. February felt quietly positive, locally. It’s not the frenzy of the pandemic years, but there’s a steady stream of serious buyers who genuinely want to move. Much of the activity we’re seeing is needs-driven, for example, families upsizing, downsizers releasing equity and people moving for schools and lifestyle. First-time buyers are also more active than many expected as they’ve largely adjusted to current mortgage rates. Landlords are still relatively subdued, but demand for well-priced family homes remains strong. The key difference today is pricing: buyers are still there, but if a property is overpriced they simply move on to the next one. In markets like Wokingham where the supply of good family homes is still tight, that underlying demand tends to keep transactions ticking over even when mortgage rates fluctuate.