Aneisha Beveridge, research director at Hamptons and Connells Group, said: “This year’s Budget arrived at an awkward point for the housing market.
“Landing so close to Christmas meant the usual post-Budget pickup in activity was far more subdued than normal.
“While the announcements didn’t unsettle most buyers and sellers, the festive season inevitably stole some of the spotlight.
“Many deals agreed before the Budget have now completed, with delayed exchanges finally getting over the line.
“But price pressures persist: in November, homes in England and Wales sold at an average 5.5 per cent discount to their original asking price, only marginally down from 5.7 per cent in October.
“That’s still deeper than the 4.9 per cent typical reduction seen a year ago, suggesting confidence hasn’t fully recovered.
“Looking ahead, we expect activity to pick up in the New Year. Falling interest rates, coupled with strong income growth, should support both prices and transactions.
“However, prime markets may continue to trail the mainstream, as higher-value buyers remain more sensitive to economic and political uncertainty.”
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