Scotland tops Zoopla’s 2026 house price forecast

Zoopla is forecasting that the average UK house price will rise by 1.5% in 2026.

It points to Scotland and Northern England for offering the strongest growth prospects fuelled by affordability and demand.

The property portal’s analysis shows Scottish markets dominating the national rankings, taking nine of the top 10 positions.

Motherwell leads the table, followed closely by Glasgow, Paisley, Falkirk and Kirkcaldy, reflecting faster sales, limited unsold stock and fewer asking price reductions.

Strong demand and quick sales

The firm’s commercial director, Alex Rose, said: “This data brings into sharp focus that there isn’t a one-speed national property market, with conditions varying significantly across the country.

“In places like Scotland and the North, sellers are benefiting from strong demand and faster sales, while in many Southern markets, success is more dependent on setting a competitive asking price to attract increasingly selective buyers.”

He added: “Agents who can clearly explain where their local market sits within this national picture and tailor their strategy accordingly, have a real opportunity to get ahead of the competition, win trust and instructions, and ultimately grow their business in 2026.”

Wigan is tops in England

Northern England also features strongly in Zoopla’s rankings with Wigan being the highest ranked English market.

Liverpool, Stoke on Trent and Wolverhampton were close behind.

The North West accounts for six of the top 10 English locations, underlining the appeal of areas where prices remain below the UK average.

Southern England and London sit at the lower end of the rankings because of higher values and stretched affordability.

Several London districts appear at the bottom, with longer selling times and heavier price cuts evident, particularly in west central London where homes take more than twice the UK average to sell.

Despite weaker prospects in the South, the outlook is not uniformly downbeat.

Zoopla says that value is gradually returning after years of subdued growth, and opportunities remain for buyers prepared to negotiate.