March Market Update: What the Latest Trends Tell Us About the Months Ahead
Welcome to this month’s market update. We’re reviewing a particularly busy March and, more importantly, what the data suggests we can expect in spring and summer.
A Surge in March Activity
March was a high-energy month across the board — not just for us here at Manning Stainton, but for the wider property market as well.
One major driver of that activity was the end of the temporary Stamp Duty thresholds. These reverted back to their original levels for any transactions completed after 31st March. As expected, this created a surge in urgency, with buyers pushing to complete their deals before the deadline.
To give you some perspective: across our network, the number of completed transactions in March was 75% higher than the same month last year. The only comparable spike we’ve seen was in 2021, when the Stamp Duty holiday introduced during the pandemic came to an end.
What Happened After the Deadline?
Of course, we anticipated the March rush — but the big question was what would happen next. Would the market cool off now that the Stamp Duty deadline had passed, or would the strong activity continue?
The answer is clear, and it’s backed up by market-wide data from our trusted source, TwentyEA:
There was a 15% increase in the number of properties sold in March 2025 compared to the same time last year.
On the supply side, however, new listings remained relatively flat.
So, we’re seeing more demand with no real increase in supply — a trend that’s creating upward pressure on prices.
A Seasonal Shift and a Rising Market
As we move into the spring and summer months, we’re seeing what you might call a “normal” seasonal pattern. Just like the weather, the market is heating up.
When it comes to prices, the overall trend is clear: they’re going up. But the rate of growth varies, and local markets are seeing different levels of movement. Here’s a quick overview of what the major data sources are saying:
Halifax reports year-on-year growth of 2.9%
Nationwide is at 3.9%
Rightmove shows asking prices up 2.4% over the year
The Land Registry, which reflects actual sold prices across the whole market, reports a rise of 4.9%
This lines up well with our forecast for the year, where we’re expecting property prices to rise somewhere between 4% and 6% in 2025.
External Uncertainty, Internal Stability
Looking beyond property, there’s no shortage of uncertainty in the world right now. From ongoing international conflicts and economic volatility — including the impact of trade policies abroad and political decisions at home — to the general sense of unpredictability in the media, it’s fair to say the wider landscape feels unstable.
But if we focus in on the core drivers of the property market, the picture becomes much clearer. And as we’ve said before, these fundamentals haven’t changed:
We have more people than homes — demand continues to outweigh supply.
New builds aren’t keeping pace with population growth.
Mortgage lenders remain active, with access to finance still broadly available.
These are the underlying factors that continue to support the property market, and they’re likely to keep prices moving upward through the rest of the year.
Final Thoughts
So, as we look ahead to the coming months, the outlook for the property market remains positive — despite the noise from the world around us. Low supply, strong demand, and accessible lending are all combining to keep momentum strong.
As always, if you have questions about your local market or want to understand how these trends might affect your property plans, feel free to reach out.
Until next month!
