Prior +0.7%Slight delay in the release by the source. UK house prices continue to edge up in February, with the average property price now touching £301,151 - marking a new record high. The annual growth for house prices also accelerated further to 1.3%, its strongest in four months.Halifax notes that:"The housing market built on its steady start to the year in February, with average prices rising by+0.3%, following an increase of +0.8% in January. Annual growth also picked up to +1.3%, itsstrongest rate for four months. Since the start of the year, average prices have increased by around£3,000, with a typical property now costing £301,151.These latest figures suggest the market has regained some momentum after a softer end to 2025.While industry data for January show a slight easing in new mortgage approvals, overall activity hascontinued to prove resilient.There’s no doubt that affordability remains stretched, supply is constrained, and regional disparitiespersist. For those without family support, the path to home ownership feels particularly challenging.However, conditions have been gradually improving, with easing interest rates and real wage growthhelping to support buyer confidence. As ever, timely and expert advice remains key to helping morepeople achieve their goal of stepping onto the property ladder.Looking ahead, geopolitical uncertainties seem set to influence the outlook for inflation and the widereconomy. Against that backdrop, markets are now anticipating a more gradual path for interest‑ratereductions. If realised, the speed at which borrowing costs ease may be tempered." This article was written by Justin Low at investinglive.com.