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April 2026 Property Market Update
April, 2026

April 2026 Property Market Update

The UK property market has moved firmly into the spring season, with April bringing a noticeable increase in activity across sales. As expected at this time of year, more homes are coming onto the market, buyer enquiries are rising, and overall momentum is building.

What stands out is the balance of conditions. The market is active, but not overheated. Increased housing supply, stable mortgage rates and ongoing affordability considerations are creating a more measured pace, where buyers and sellers are all adapting to more balanced conditions.

Buying: More Choice as Spring Supply Builds

Spring traditionally brings more properties to market and the latest Rightmove House Price Index from March 2026 shows that the average asking price of newly listed homes rose by 0.8% to £371,042, reflecting a typical seasonal uplift.

At the same time, the number of homes available for sale is at an 11-year high for this time of year, giving buyers more choice than they have had in recent years.

This increase in supply is helping to moderate price growth. While demand remains steady, buyers are taking more time to compare properties and assess value before committing.

Mortgage activity also reflects a stable market. According to the Bank of England, net mortgage approvals for house purchases rose to 62,600 in February 2026, up slightly from January, suggesting a gradual improvement in buyer confidence.

Tip for buyers:

With more homes available, April is a good time to compare options carefully. Being financially prepared with a mortgage agreement in principle will still help you move quickly when needed.

View property for sale in Purley, Croydon and Greater London.

Selling: Stronger Activity, but More Competition Too

April remains one of the most popular months for sellers to bring properties to market. Improved weather, longer daylight hours and increased buyer activity all contribute to higher levels of interest.

However, the rise in available stock means sellers are facing more competition than in recent years. Buyers now have greater choice and are more likely to compare properties before making offers.

Rightmove’s latest data shows that while asking prices are rising seasonally, overall price growth remains modest. This reinforces the importance of realistic pricing, particularly where similar properties are available nearby.

The broader outlook for 2026 remains steady. According to Nationwide’s house price outlook, price growth is expected to remain in the region of 2% to 4% over the year, supported by improving affordability and stable economic conditions.

Tip for sellers:

Spring brings more buyers, but also more competing listings. Accurate pricing, strong presentation and having legal paperwork ready early can help secure a quicker and smoother sale.

Generate a full report on your own property including an instant estimated valuation here!

Market Outlook

April 2026 reflects a market that is active but balanced. Buyer demand is improving and seller activity is increasing.

The key difference compared with recent years is the level of choice available, which is helping to create more stable and sustainable conditions across the market.

As the spring season continues, activity is expected to remain strong, with gradual price growth.

What Next?

The UK property market in April 2026 is characterised by stability and opportunity. Buyers have more options and sellers are benefiting from seasonal demand.

Success in this market is less about timing and more about preparation. Whether buying or selling, being organised, realistic and well-informed will make the biggest difference.

Shinerocks is here to support your next move in Purley, Croydon & Greater London. Call 020 8660 2010 or email enquiries@shinerocks.co.uk to speak with our team.

 

Note: The information in this article is based on the most recent data available as of March 2026 and may change. Always seek professional advice for specific circumstances.

 

Have any questions?

Use the form to send us your questions and we'll respond as quickly as possible.

You can also call us on 020 8660 2010, or email enquiries@shinerocks.co.uk.


 

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Dear Paul and the ShineRocks team, Thank you! We are delighted that we successfully completed on the sale of The Garth, 12 Welcomes Road on Friday, and we wanted to take this opportunity to thank you, Claire and the team for all your excellent work on our behalf. We really appreciated your proactivity, frankness, responsiveness and good...

Mr & Mrs F

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Mr G

Worked hard to find possible buyers. Very professional and friendly staff. Drove the completion by liaising with all parties when things threatened to go pear-shaped. Very satisfied customer

Mrs H-W

Having tried a couple estate agents to sell our house, with no result, we tried ShineRocks. Paul Shinerock was realistic in his valuation, which others had not been and we had a number of viewings. A Christmas present was accepting a very good offer. Unfortunately, the buyer dragged his heels and then at the point of exchange decided to...

Mr P

A great service offered by both Paul and Claire. Sometimes the best thing an agent can do is to convince you to accept an offer and to encourage you to pay more to get the house of your dreams. Had Paul not convinced me to accept the offer on mine I would not have moved. Claire moved heaven and earth to enable me to purchase a property through...

Mr & Mrs W

Very helpful, pleasure to work with, and they offer a great service

Mr L

My house purchase was very complicated, ShineRocks handled it very professionally

Mr H

Claire was our estate agent and she was incredibly professional, always available and kept us completely up to date. A pleasure to buy and sell with

Mrs P

Exceptionally professional and helpful and very knowledgeable. Would highly recommend ShineRocks

Mr P

Excellent service over a period of several months. Always at hand to offer advice and their expertise. Highly Recommend Shinerocks and thank you for all your help

Mr A

I was very pleased with the service - professional yet caring

Mrs L

Very professional and excellent service in a complicated situation which resulted in a positive result. We have purchased 2 homes from Paul in the last 14 years. Claire is remarkable and kept us fully up to speed

Mr P

Very friendly. After a slow start we got on very well and achieved our objective. Particular thanks to Claire

Dr L

Hi Caire, Can you say a massive 'thank you' to Paul for coming to see me. He really gave me some things to think about that had just not crossed my mind. Swapping the bathroom and middle bedroom and adding a bathroom to the main bed room made so much sense, I've got Alan coming over on Saturday to cost it up! I'll definitely...

D

We have recently purchased a property through shinerocks and can honestly say the service we received from Claire was exceptional. She kept us updated regularly and liaised tirelessly between solicitors, vendors and the other agents in what became a difficult and frustrating chain. She was both professional and personable, and we always felt...

M & C

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Mr and Mrs W

I would just like to take this opportunity to thank you for your assistance and facilitation of the purchase of our property, and I would relish the opportunity to work with you again in future endeavours.

CT

Just want to say a big thank you for all your help and support.  I know you were not our estate agent but we really felt supported and coached through the whole process and I can't thank you enough. 

M, J &A

Paul, Claire and all the team at ShineRocks have always acted with the utmost professionalism and in my experience have been the best estate agency I have ever encountered.  

Mr D

Dear Claire, Thank you so much for making our dream home come true.  Invitation to the house warming is guaranteed! Much Love

R & N

Hi the ShineRocks Team Would like to say thank you for a great service in completing on our house.  We are totally blessed, we feel so lucky.  Your team with friendly voices were very proactive in updating us.  Paul you have a good team around and to say the least, you have some charm. You are a very nice bunch of people to...

L M

We would like to also comment upon the superb level of professionalism shown by the staff at ShineRocks. Having been to other block bookings we must say that this one was handled to so well. Additionally the advice given regarding parking was most helpful. We will certainly keep an eye out for other properties marketed by you. Kindest...

Mr and Mrs H

Dear Paul How very happy I am to be the lucky chap that has been given the privilege to buy and live in the elegant property. Thank you again for the excellent service provided by ShineRocks. Yours sincerely 

Mr R

Thanks for all your attention - I am impressed with your service and will recommend you to friends. Kind regards 

Mrs A

Dear Paul This is amazing! Thank you and your team very much. Whatever happens now, I know that you all did a fantastic job in achieving this - its unbelievable. Many thanks Kindest regards 

Mrs D

Terrific news. Thank you Paul. With all thanks for your support and help during this process. All best wishes 

Mr H

Thank you so much for all your help with our house move. We appreciate the hard work you put in to finally get us to an exchange date. Your calm approach and sense of humour throughout really helped. Thanks again, 

Mr and Mrs G

Thank you so much for all your work on selling our home. It is much appreciated. Best wishes 

Mr and Mrs R

Thanks again for everything that you have done to get our new home. God bless you. 

Mr and Mrs P

Dear Claire and the 'team' at ShineRocks for all of your help and patience with our purchase.  Best wishes

K and L

Dear Mr Shinerock, thank you so very much for valued advice last Saturday; your remarks and suggestions have certainly got us thinking of the best way to turn! Best wishes

V and K

Dear Paul We are at last beginning to see some order in our new home and have time to catch breath. The move was challenging to say the least as we were downsizing dramatically and had too much to fit in prior to having an extension to create two more rooms and allow us to convert an existing one into a utility room. We would like to take...

G and S S

Good morning Claire, I have been meaning to e mail you since Monday just to say thank you! Mum and I are extremely grateful for all the time you have given us and we really do value your advice and guidance.  We have been in contact with a lot of agents, in fact probably all of the main estate agents around the area and ShineRocks...

S and M

Dear Paul, Well, we got there in the end! Although it was long, complicated and at times, a very stressful journey, we appreciate the help of you and all your team in finally getting us over the finishing line. Best regards

B

Thank you for everything you've done. I couldn't have got through this without you. Putting up with every difficult situation in such a kind way. Thank you so much. 

Mrs P

Paul, Claire and all the team at ShineRocks have always acted with the utmost professionalism and in my experience have been the best estate agency I have ever encountered.

Mr H