Northern England and Scotland are predicted to lead the way as the top UK property hotspots in the upcoming year. According to Zoopla, these regions are expected to have the most favorable housing market conditions based on factors such as affordability, speed of home sales, percentage of properties on the market for an extended period, and the likelihood of price reductions.
Scotland stands out with nine out of the top 10 spots on Zoopla’s list due to homes selling quickly, minimal price cuts, and low unsold inventory. Motherwell in Scotland is projected to be the hottest postcode, with prices set to increase by 3.4% to £134,700. In second place is Glasgow, where property prices are forecasted to rise by 3% to £163,600.
In England, the North West, particularly Wigan’s WN postcode, features prominently in Zoopla’s top 10 list. Wigan offers affordable housing with an average price of £175,800, expecting a 3% price increase this year. However, homes in Wigan take about 32 days on average to sell, similar to the national average of 39 days.
Liverpool ranks 11th on the list, with a predicted 3.5% increase in property prices. Other English cities expected to have strong property markets in 2026 include Stoke-on-Trent, Wolverhampton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Carlisle, and Northampton.
Conversely, areas that once experienced significant house price growth now find themselves at the bottom of the list. London’s West Central area is anticipated to see a 1.8% price decrease this year, despite its high average property price of £797,600. The properties in this area take an average of 82 days to sell, with a considerable number on the market for more than six months.
Cardiff emerges as the favored property market in Wales, with only 9% of homes on the market for an extended period. In Northern Ireland, Belfast ranks 25th nationwide, experiencing a 6.5% increase in average house prices over the past year.
Richard Donnell, Zoopla’s executive director, emphasizes the importance of considering local housing market conditions when making real estate decisions. He underscores the significance of evaluating factors like home value, affordability, demand, and selling times to empower buyers and sellers to make informed choices in 2026.