Prices hit record high as properties sell at fastest pace ever recorded

National average price of property coming to market hits a new all-time high of £327,797, following a 2.1% (+£6,733) monthly jump.

Encouragingly, 145,000 properties were newly marketed this month, but not enough to meet buyer demand:

Number of sales agreed up by 55% on same period two years ago, reducing the stock of properties that are available to buy to the lowest proportion ever recorded.

Buying frenzy for new stock, with both the average number of days to sell a property reaching its lowest ever level, and the number of houses selling within a week reaching its highest ever level.

Although some of the froth is likely to come off the market later in the year once some government economic measures end, we expect activity to remain robust for the rest of 2021.

A monthly price surge of 2.1% (+£6,733)  has propelled new seller asking prices to a new record high, with the national average now standing at £327,797. This figure shatters the previous record, set in October last year, by over £4,000. The big jump comes as buyer demand sets another new record, chasing the lowest ever proportion of property available to buy. This is now the fastest-selling market that Rightmove has measured since our records began.

Tim Bannister, Rightmove’s Director of Property Data comments: “This is only the second time over the past five years that prices have increased by over 2% in a month, so it’s a big jump, especially bearing in mind that the lockdown restrictions are still limiting the population’s movements and activities. The property market has remained fully open, and is fully active to such an extent that frenzied buyer activity has helped to push the average price of property coming to market to an all-time high.

“The stars have aligned for this spring price surge, with buyers’ new space requirements being part of the constellation alongside cheap mortgages, stamp duty holiday extensions in England and Wales, government support for 95% mortgages and a shortage of suitable property to buy. There’s also growing optimism due to the vaccination roll-out, which is helping drive the momentum for a fresh start in fresh surroundings. It does mean that this spring’s buyers are facing the highest ever property prices, though with properties selling faster in the first two weeks of April than ever previously recorded by Rightmove at an average of just 45 days to be marked by the agent as sold, it seems that those buyers are not deterred. Almost one in four (23%) properties that had a sale agreed in March had been on the market for less than a week, which is also the highest rate that we’ve ever recorded. If you’re looking to buy in the current frenetic market then you need to be on your toes and ready to move more quickly than ever before.”