Skip to contentSwipe for next articleIndependent Bulletin homepageDownload our appAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Membership today.Join todayAlready a member? Log inRich BoothTuesday 27 October 2026 11:33 GMTHome buyers are being more selective, Zoopla said (PA)More than a third of UK homes are in postcode areas where property values have fallen over the past year, up from 12 per cent a year ago.Price falls are heavily concentrated in London and the South East, where 85 per cent of homes are located in areas experiencing value declines.Despite regional drops, the average UK house price rose by 0.8 per cent annually to £273,100, driven by growth in the North West, Scotland and Northern Ireland.Higher mortgage rates and a 7 per cent increase in available properties have boosted negotiating power for buyers, forcing sellers to price competitively.The upcoming Budget will detail the government's new Your First Home initiative to assist first-time buyers alongside more than £1 billion for social housing.In full35% of UK homes are in postcodes where house prices are fallingMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in