What’s Really Happening in Our Local Property Market? 🏡📈
July 2025 Update from RedRoots
By Stephen Geer, Director at RedRoots
Over the past five years, UK homeowners have experienced remarkable property value growth but the headlines don’t always tell the whole story. While national averages offer some insight, here at RedRoots we believe it’s the local data that truly matters. For homeowners, buyers, and landlords across Doncaster, Wakefield, and Huddersfield, there’s plenty of good news.
Let’s dive into the real figures and what they mean for you.
📈 Local House Price Growth: Stronger Than the National Average
According to the latest research from Zoopla, the average UK home has increased in value by 20% since 2020, adding around £55,800 in equity to the average homeowner . However, if you own a home in Doncaster, Wakefield, or Huddersfield, relatively speaking you’ve likely done even better:
- Doncaster: Up £46,976 (a 38.42% rise) – from £122,168 to £169,244
- Wakefield: Up £52,661 (a 36.02% rise) – from £146,206 to £198,867
- Huddersfield: Up £57,834 (a 40.35% rise) – from £143,340 to £201,174
This performance places our region well ahead of the national trend, with gains exceeding those seen in London, where some inner boroughs have even lost value.
Why the surge? A combination of post-pandemic buyer behaviour, migration to more affordable regions, and strong local economies has driven sustained demand across Yorkshire and the Humber.
🏘️ A Surge in Rental Demand—and Prices
The rental market has also seen seismic shifts. Between 2022 and 2025, average UK rents increased by £221 per month, surpassing mortgage repayment rises of £218 . Today, the average monthly rent stands at £1,283, versus £1,154 for a mortgage.
This is driven by a mismatch in supply and demand: many would-be first-time buyers are still renting due to affordability challenges and mortgage constraints, while landlords have pulled back on new investments, limiting rental stock.
Locally, we’ve observed this first-hand, with continued high rental demand across the Wakefield District and Doncaster. Whether you’re a tenant or a landlord, this dynamic creates both pressure and opportunity.
💷 The State of the Sales Market: Prices, Competition & Affordability
The latest Rightmove House Price Index (July 2025) shows a 1.2% drop in asking prices nationwide, the largest July fall in over 20 years. But this isn’t a crash; it’s a seasonal adjustment driven by increased stock and sellers pricing competitively to stand out and I would like to think agents giving more honest advice around pricing expectations.
Encouragingly, buyer interest is 6% higher than last year, and sales agreed are up 5%. With mortgage rates down to 4.53% (from 5.34% last year), buyer affordability is improving, aided by rising wages .
In some Northern, asking prices actually increased by 1.2% this month, showing that more affordable regions like Doncaster and Huddersfield continue to attract attention.
🔍 What This Means for You
Whether you’re thinking of selling, buying your first home, or considering an investment, here’s our advice based on the data:
✅ Sellers:
Now is a great time to sell if you’re priced right. Buyers are active, but they’re cautious and have plenty of choice (the most amount of choice since 2013… Yes you read that right!). We’re seeing the best results from sellers who price realistically from the outset as opposed to going higher than the market value to ‘allow for wiggle room’.
✅ Buyers:
Affordability is slowly improving, especially with falling mortgage rates, tipped to go down rather than up over the next 12 months (Disclaimer: This is not financial advice but rather a statement on the sentiment of the lending market). Local prices may not rise as fast in the next 12 months, but competition for good, well presented homes is still high enough to have confidence coming to market and achieving a relatively quick sale.
✅ Landlords:
With rental demand outstripping supply, yields remain strong. But tenant affordability is reaching its ceiling, so investing in quality, well-located homes is key to securing long-term tenancies.
🏡 RedRoots’ Take: Local Knowledge Matters More Than Ever
Here at RedRoots, we don’t just follow the market, we live and breathe it across the Doncaster, Wakefield, Huddersfield and Pontefract regions. We’ve seen how the national data plays out street by street, and our team is on hand to help you navigate your next move with clarity and confidence.
Whether you’re planning to sell, invest, or simply want to understand how much your home is now worth, we’re here to help. Book a valuation, drop into the Hub at Nostell, or give us a call.
Now more than ever, trusted, honest Yorkshire guidance makes all the difference.
