The performance of the UK housing market in 2024 has largely exceeded many people's expectations, although challenges remain for first-time buyers due to house prices increasing and a testing rental market for many. Regional disparities, such as the North-South divide, also continue to influence housing accessibility and affordability for many buyers in pockets of the country.

In this episode of the Barclays Mortgage Insider podcast, host Phil Spencer is joined by Zoopla's Executive Director of Research, Richard Donnell, to discuss the intricacies of the UK housing market over the course of the year and explore what lies ahead in 2025.

They delve into its resilience amid high interest rates and inflation, exploring key topics including the current state of the residential and buy-to-let purchase markets, house price trends, and the rising prominence of professional landlords. They also cover the supply gap, the

impact of affordability checks, and the two-tiered mortgage market, highlighting refinancing, remortgaging and the influence of swap rates.

This instalment offers essential insights to help brokers stay informed on market developments as they prepare for the year ahead.

This episode was recorded on 30th September 2024.

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