Britain's booming housing markets: Rightmove reveals 10 areas where sales have skyrocketed
May 2025 saw the largest number of agreed property sales out of any month since March 2022, according to Rightmove - and property portal Rightmove has named the towns which have seen the biggest spike.
May is typically a busy point in the year for agreed sales, which is when an offer has been made and accepted.
However, this year's figure reflects an improvement in housing market conditions, according to Rightmove.
Across the UK, the number of sales agreed is now 6 per cent ahead of the same period last year. However, this trend is more prominent in some areas than others.
In Wales, the number of sales being agreed is 15 per cent higher than at this time last year, whereas in London the figure is just 1 per cent higher.
Heywood is property hotspot
May's sales hotspot is Heywood in Manchester, with 88 per cent more buyers agreeing a deal to purchase than this time last year.
Next is Pudsey in West Yorkshire, where there has been 85 per cent more property sales agreed year-on-year.
Wilmslow in Cheshire has also seen a surge in activity with a two thirds increase in sales compared to May last year.
These areas are doing well as buyers are looking for both affordability and value, according to Colleen Babcock, a property expert at Rightmove.
She says that while mortgage rates have come down significantly from the peak, they are only slightly down from this time last year.
Nine out of the top ten sales hotspots in May have an average price tag below the current national average.
'This month's hotspots reflect broader market trends driven by affordability and attractive property prices,' said Babcock.
'With mortgage rates higher than the lows we saw post financial crisis, and affordability stretched, many buyers are continuing to look for value, which is likely reflected in the lower than average prices of some of the current hotspots.
'With the overall number of sellers continuing to run at a decade-high, sellers need to also be mindful of the competition they might face from other sellers trying to secure a buyer in their area.
'Working with a local agent to price realistically and competitively for that market, rather than pricing too high, is one way to increase the likelihood of a successful sale.'
Best mortgage rates and how to find them
Mortgage rates have risen substantially over recent years, meaning that those remortgaging or buying a home face higher costs.
That makes it even more important to search out the best possible rate for you and get good mortgage advice, whether you are a first-time buyer, home owner or buy-to-let landlord.
Quick mortgage finder links with This is Money's partner L&C
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This is Money and L&C's mortgage calculator can let you compare deals to see which ones suit your home's value and level of deposit.
You can compare fixed rate lengths, from two-year fixes, to five-year fixes and ten-year fixes.
If you're ready to find your next mortgage, why not use This is Money and L&C's online Mortgage Finder. It will search 1,000's of deals from more than 90 different lenders to discover the best deal for you.
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