Recently listed – Abbotswood, Guildford – £2,500,000 – Full Details
Property Market Update – May 2025
By Steve Cook – Clarke Gammon
Following our market comment article in April, Making sense of the recent price surge claims, in which we try to make sense of the headline grabbing price surge articles of some of the media. This month the headlines are a little more cautious, despite the recently released data from Rightmove’s House Price Index confirming a new record high for asking prices.
It marks the fifth consecutive year in which asking prices have reached a record level in May, a time of year when the British property market is traditionally at its busiest, with homes and gardens presented at their best, the warmer weather is normally the signal for the early summer buying season. And whilst asking prices for property listings have increased this is year, it is at the slowest rate for May since 2016.
Rightmove are right to be cautious, as although the headline numbers confirm that asking prices are at an all-time record high, with new seller asking prices rising by 0.6% (+£2,335) this month. Although putting this in context, this month’s seasonal price increase is the lowest at this time of year since 2016, as the decade-high number of homes for sale limits price growth
It comes as the market continues to recover from the governments change in Stamp Duty thresholds, and as a result has left many more homes in the market while buyer demand has dropped, reflecting a more subdued late Spring market.
Number of available homes at 10 year high
The Rightmove House Price Index goes on to confirm that the number of available homes for sale continues to run at a ten-year high, creating competition between sellers to secure a buyer for their home, and limiting growth in newly-advertised property prices.
The number of new properties coming onto the market for sale is now 14% ahead of this time last year.
Buyer Demand
Rightmove also point to the dip in buyer demand following a busy early start to the year, largely due to the stamp duty changes, the reports continues – Along with the smaller-than-usual price increase, there has been a dip in new buyer demand following April’s stamp duty increase.
After a busier than usual March, new buyer demand slowed in April to 4% below the same month in 2024. However, demand in the year to date is still 3% ahead of last year, and there are early signs of a bounce-back in late May.
Despite April’s lull in new buyer demand the number of sales being agreed in the last month is 5% higher than at this time last year, indicating that spoiled-for-choice buyers are still being tempted by the right property at the right price.
As new seller activity outpaces new buyer demand, some caution on price expectations is needed by owners seriously looking to achieve a sale.
Interest rate cut
The latest Bank Rate cut could provide a boost to buyer affordability and activity later in the year. Rightmove’s weekly mortgage tracker shows that the lowest available two-year fixed mortgage rate is now 3.72%, down from 4.75% last year.
Recently Listed homes
Here are a selection of some of our most recently listed homes for sale –
House Sold in Chiddingfold – Guide Price £2,265,000
House for Sale in Guildford – Guide Price £1,400,000
House for Sale in Haslemere – Guide Price £1,195,000
House for Sale in Liphook – Guide Price £575,000
House for Sale in Guildford – £675,000
To see the very latest homes coming to the market, click ‘New to market homes’, this lists all of the very latest homes as they come to the market.
If you are considering a move, we have demand for property in and around the towns and villages covered by our offices in Guildford, Haslemere and Liphook, with many motivated buyers looking for a new home.
Please feel free to contact any of our offices, either for an informal chat about the market and how we might help you with this or to book a market appraisal.
Why not try our instant online valuation tool?
Steve Cook FNAEA Senior Consultant – Clarke Gammon
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