The property market in 2024 saw a rise in buyer activity, resulting in 1.1 million sales completions, a 10% increase from 2023, according to Zoopla.
The average time to sell a property fell to 33 days, down from 34 days in 2023.
Three-bed semi-detached homes remained the most sought-after property type among buyers.
Falkirk in Scotland was identified as the fastest-moving market, with properties selling in just 15 days.
May was the prime month for listing homes for sale, while January recorded the highest number of visitors on their website.
Zoopla also found that 80% of buyers now prioritise viewing floor plans before property photos.
The priciest sale was a property on Grosvenor Crescent in London, listed for £65m.
Zoopla’s keyword search trends showed ‘freehold’ maintaining its top position for the second year running.
New entries in the top 100 keywords included ‘study’ and ‘in need of modernisation,’ reflecting changing buyer preferences.
Kensington and Chelsea remained the most expensive local authority for home purchases, averaging over £1.1m, compared to Inverclyde, the cheapest at £105,800.
In terms of rentals, Kensington and Chelsea also topped the list with an average rent of £3,518 per calendar month, while Hartlepool recorded the lowest at £564 per month.
The furthest north property sold was in Unst, Shetland, while the most southerly property was located in Lizard, Cornwall.
Zoopla forecast a robust market for 2025, expecting 1.5 million sales completions and a predicted 2.5% increase in house prices.
First-time buyers were expected to continue supporting housing chains, facilitating moves for existing homeowners.
Toby Leek, NAEA Propertymark President, said: “It is clear that the housing market is heading in a positive direction with affordability and activity continuing to increase.
“With interest rates likely to continue to remain much lower in 2025 than they were throughout this year, that should lead to more buyers entering the market, especially in England and Northern Ireland, prior to the Stamp Duty changes becoming a reality in April.
Leek added: “Heading into the new year, the UK Government looks to legislate the Planning and Infrastructure Bill and with widespread concern on being able to meet their ambitious target of building 1.5 million new homes before the end of this parliament, a plan needs to be set out to show how these aspirations become a reality as boosting supply of all types and tenures is crucial to meet demand.”
