Northern England and Scotland have emerged as the leading regions on the UK’s property hotspots forecast for this year. The analysis conducted by housing website Zoopla considered key factors such as affordability, average time to sell a home, percentage of properties on the market for over six months, and the likelihood of price reductions to determine the most promising postal areas for 2026.
Scotland dominated the top spots with nine out of the top 10 locations based on these criteria. Motherwell (ML) was identified as the top hotspot, with property prices set to increase by 3.4% to £134,700. The town boasts a quick selling time of just 14 days and a low inventory of properties on the market for extended periods. Glasgow followed as the second hottest spot, with an average property price of £163,600 projected to rise by 3%.
In England, the North West region featured prominently on Zoopla’s list of potential hotspots, with Wigan’s WN postcode making it into the national top 10. Wigan stands out for its affordability, with an average property price of £175,800 and a predicted 3% price increase this year. However, homes in Wigan take around 32 days to sell, slightly longer than the national average of 39 days.
Liverpool ranked 11th on the list, with a forecasted property price growth of 3.5% this year. Other English locations expected to have strong property markets include Stoke-on-Trent, Wolverhampton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Carlisle, and Northampton.
Conversely, areas that previously experienced significant house price surges now find themselves at the bottom of the list. London’s West Central (WC) area is expected to see a 1.8% price decrease this year, despite having an average property price of £797,600. Properties in this postcode take an average of 82 days to sell, with 14% on the market for over six months and over half of sellers reducing their prices by at least 5% to attract buyers.
In Wales, Cardiff is projected to be a property hotspot, with only 9% of homes in the city listed for more than six months. Northern Ireland has experienced strong house price inflation over the past year, with average prices rising by 6.5%. Belfast ranks 25th out of 120 locations nationwide for this year.
Richard Donnell, Zoopla’s executive director, emphasized the importance of considering local housing market conditions for informed housing decisions in 2026. He highlighted the areas with potential for sales growth and above-average house price rises, particularly in Scotland and Northern England. Donnell encouraged sellers and buyers to leverage local market insights and tailor their strategies for successful transactions in the current real estate landscape.