House prices... and stately home’s best below-stairs ever

THE Zoopla house price index published this week shows that there are more homes for sale and that renewed confidence amongst buyers continues to support the number of sales being agreed – which are 12 per cent higher compared to this time last year.

According to the property portal’s analysts, UK house price growth remains broadly flat at minus 0.2 per cent, which is helping to create a more balanced market that should give more people the chance of moving home or buying their first home this year.

Zoopla expects 100,000 more sales this year than in 2023 ao 1.1million in 2024 compared to 1m in 2023.

The proviso is that sellers continue to remain realistic on pricing and there are signs that is happening.

Those who are over-ambitious risk their property languishing for sale and becoming blighted because of it.

The portal’s latest property price data, which covers March 2024, shows that they have slipped in the South but risen slightly in the North with Yorkshire seeing a 0.8 per cent boost with the North East seeing a 1.3 per cent uplift and the North West recording 1.1 per cent growth.

Richard Donnell, executive director at Zoopla, says: “There is clear evidence that house prices are firming and the pace of price falls is slowing. We don’t believe that prices will start to rise as buyers face much higher mortgage repayments than in the recent past.”

In this weekend’s we feature Birdsall House, which I wrote about several years ago when it first opened its doors as a weddings and events venue.

It is the most magical stately home I’ve visited thanks to its sublime location in its own private valley and a calm and welcoming atmosphere.

It’s latest addition is a transformation of the “below stairs kitchens” into an incredible events space. It is amazing!