In 2024, Scotland stole the spotlight in the property market as estate agents closed a stonking 54,428 deals—15% of all home sales across the UK. This made Scotland the busiest region for buying and selling homes.
Hot on its heels was the South East, contributing 14% of total transactions. The North West rounded out the top three with 11%.
Despite hurdles like elevated mortgage rates, the UK housing market stayed strong.
A Positive Year for the Property Market
Experts acknowledge that although affordability challenges continued to weigh on buyers, the mood in the property market remained upbeat.
It’s been a year of growing positivity for the UK property market with estate agents on course to match the sales levels of previous years.
The final months of 2024 registered a rush of activity as buyers raced to beat the stamp duty deadline. This burst of energy is likely to carry into early 2025.
However, with stamp duty relief thresholds set to end in April, the market’s pace beyond that point is less certain.
Spotlight on Key Cities
In England, Leeds led the way with 3,994 homes sold, followed closely by Birmingham with 3,864 transactions. Over in Wales, Cardiff stood out with 1,826 sales, marking the highest market activity in the region.
Conclusion
Leeds led home sales in England, followed by Birmingham, while Cardiff had the most sales in Wales. As 2025 begins, the big question is if the momentum can last after stamp duty relief ends in April.
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