Bright Advice – Mortgages by Design reports on the latest mortgage news from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) UK Residential Market Survey. Early signs point to improved confidence in the housing market. This mortgage news covers national trends, with a focus on Cambridgeshire and East Anglia.
Buyer Interest Shows Improvement
The UK housing market ended 2025 quietly. However, sentiment is shifting. Buyer interest remained negative in December, with a net balance of -24%. Yet, this was less severe than November. Agreed sales hit -19%. Again, an improvement. These trends suggest the slowdown may be bottoming out.
Forward-looking indicators turned more positive. Sales expectations for the next three months reached +22%. That’s the highest since October 2024. Over 12 months, a net +34% anticipate higher sales volumes. This is more than double November’s figure.
Price Expectations Turn Optimistic
House prices softened nationally, with a -14% net balance. However, the pace eased. Short-term price views are nearly flat. Looking ahead 12 months, +35% expect rises. This marks the most positive reading since late 2024.
Regional differences persist. London saw -42%, and the South East -32%. In contrast, Scotland and Northern Ireland reported growth. For Cambridgeshire and East Anglia, surveyors note steady demand. Local mortgage news highlights resilient buyer enquiries in these areas.
Supply Side Stabilises
New vendor instructions balanced at 0% in December. This ended a streak of declines. However, appraisal activity stays limited. More stock may appear gradually. Additionally, lower interest rate expectations help. Budget uncertainty fades too. These factors boost confidence.
Cambridgeshire and East Anglia Trends
In Cambridgeshire, forward-looking sales expectations align with national gains. East Anglia shows similar positivity. Local surveyors report growing buyer interest. Price falls eased here too. This regional mortgage news suggests stability. Transactions could pick up soon.
Lettings Market Remains Tight
Tenant demand weakened to -27%. Landlord instructions stayed negative at -39%. Supply constraints continue. Yet, rents are forecast to rise around 3% over 12 months. This supports the positive outlook.
Mortgage News Summary
Overall, this RICS survey brings encouraging mortgage news. Confidence grows for sales and prices. Cambridgeshire and East Anglia reflect national recovery signs. Bright Advice – Mortgages by Design shares this for information only. It reports on developments first covered by industry sources.