Zoopla has announced the areas forecast to be the hottest property markets in 2026
The Met Tower, a former college, has lain empty for more then a decade(Image: Getty Images)
Northern England and Scotland are predicted to be the UK’s property hotspots this year, according to a forecast.
Property website Zoopla utilised four key indicators to determine the most sought-after postcodes: affordability, average time taken to sell a home, the percentage of properties on the market for over six months, and the likelihood of asking prices being reduced.
These factors were considered to identify the postal areas anticipated to have the strongest prospects for 2026.
The top-ranking areas typically had properties selling swiftly, often without the need for price reductions, and without an above-average amount of unsold inventory.
Scotland dominated the list, accounting for nine out of the top ten spots based on these combined factors.
Zoopla predicts that Motherwell (ML) will be the most desirable postcode this year, with average property prices of £134,700 expected to increase by another 3.4%.
The typical home in the town is usually sold within just 14 days, and only 7% of properties have been on the market for more than six months, reports the Mirror.
Glasgow came in second place, with the average property price of £163,600 projected to rise by 3%.
Similar to Motherwell, homes in the city typically sell within a fortnight, and only 4% of sellers reduce their asking price by more than 5%.
Zoopla’s list of potential property hotspots in England features several locations from the North West. Wigan, with its WN postcode, is the only town to make it into the website’s national top 10.
The town is lauded for its affordability, boasting an average property price of £175,800, although Zoopla predicts a 3% increase this year.
However, the average home in Wigan takes approximately 32 days to sell, which is not significantly less than the national average of 39 days.
Liverpool ranks 11th, with property prices in the city expected to rise by 3.5% this year. Other English locations predicted to have robust property markets this year include Stoke-on-Trent, Wolverhampton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Carlisle and Northampton.
However, areas that were once renowned for skyrocketing house prices now find themselves at the bottom of the list. The weakest postcode among the 120 on Zoopla’s list also happens to be one of the UK’s most expensive.
This is partly because Zoopla estimates that prices in London’s West Central (WC) area will drop by another 1.8% this year.
Despite this, with an average price of £797,600, it remains significantly above the national average.
Properties in this postcode take an average of 82 days to sell, with 14% of homes remaining on the market for more than six months. Just over half of sellers have had to reduce their asking price by at least 5% to secure a buyer.
The neighbouring W postcode area of West London is predicted to be the next weakest performer, with East Central London following suit, then South West (SW) London.
In Wales, Cardiff emerges as the predicted property hotspot, boosted by the fact that merely 9% of properties in the city have remained on the market for more than six months.
Northern Ireland has experienced the most robust house price growth over the past year, with average values climbing 6.5%. Zoopla attributes this partly to prices recovering from a relatively low starting point, having trailed behind the remainder of the UK throughout the previous decade.
Belfast sits at number 25 in the national ranking of 120 locations for this year.
Richard Donnell, executive director at Zoopla, commented: “Whether you’re buying or selling, local housing market conditions matter more than ever when making housing decisions in 2026.
“Basing decisions on the value of a home, affordability, demand and selling times in the local area will help sellers and buyers move with greater confidence. Our analysis highlights the areas with the strongest potential for continued growth in sales activity and above-average house price rises in 2026.
“While prospects are strongest in Scotland and Northern England, opportunities exist across the UK where demand and affordability remain well aligned. Price growth is expected to be slower in lower-ranked markets, particularly across parts of Southern England and London, although improving affordability means the outlook in London is more positive than in recent years.
“The characteristics of individual homes matters too and how much demand there exists locally for different types of homes which might perform better than the local market. It is important for serious sellers, speaking to local agents to get tailored insight into local conditions and how to price and market their home for a successful sale in 2026.”