The website has recorded 6% more homes for sale in the four weeks to February 15 compared with the same period in 2025.
This month is on track to see the highest number of homes being freshly listed for sale in February for a decade, according to a property website.
Zoopla has recorded 6% more homes for sale in the four weeks to February 15 compared with the same period in 2025.
Combined with falling mortgage rates, the market is currently looking particularly good for first-time buyers, the website said.
It said the surge in homes for sale will increase choice for buyers and help keep price increases in check this year.
Many lenders have also made changes to their criteria, allowing some people to borrow more.
The number of sales being agreed has increased sharply, but remains below the “very strong start” to 2025, the report said.
Sales are currently running at the fourth strongest February level in the past decade, even though there are fewer buyers in the market than a year ago.
Zoopla estimated 40% of homes currently for sale on its website are cheaper to buy with a mortgage than the cost of renting locally, assuming someone has a 20% deposit to put down, which is an improvement compared with 25% last year. People’s individual circumstances will vary.
House prices increased by 1.3% in the 12 months to January, Zoopla said, ranging from an 8.0% rise in Northern Ireland to a 0.2% fall in London.
Within Britain, the North West of England was identified as the strongest-performing region, with prices up 3.3% annually, followed by Scotland (2.8%) and the North East (2.5%).
In Wales, house prices increased by 2.2% annually.
The areas with higher price growth are more affordable and have fewer homes for sale than a year ago, limiting buyer choice and supporting price growth, Zoopla said.
Looking at southern England, where affordability is more stretched, the report said: “Sellers in southern England who are planning to move this year will need to price realistically to secure a timely sale and should factor this into the offer they make on their next purchase.”
Zoopla’s house price index uses sold prices, mortgage valuations and data for agreed sales to make calculations.
Richard Donnell, executive director at Zoopla, said: “Despite improved levels of market activity, subdued house price inflation is good news for buyers and sellers and represents a more stable market. More sellers putting their home on the market shows a strong desire to move home.
“Lower mortgage rates and improved affordability of mortgages means now could very well be the best time to buy a home in recent years, especially for first-time buyers with more homes available to buy for less than the cost of renting.
“We expect continued modest rates of price inflation over 2026, which will support healthy levels of sales with some wide variations across local markets. Sellers need to seek the advice of local agents to get the right strategy for their home.”
David Fell, lead analyst at property firm Hamptons said: “With the advantage of not having a home to sell, first-time buyers have often been favoured by sellers above others making offers at a similar level.
“This has allowed first-time buyers to negotiate harder than they have previously. In February, a fifth were able to secure a discount of 10% or more from the asking price.”
Nigel Bishop, founder of buying agency Recoco Property Search, said: “Whilst prices have seen a subtle increase, the uplift in homes for sale will allow more buyers to hold the upper hand during price negotiations.”
Tom Bill, head of UK residential research at Knight Frank, said: “House prices are being kept in check by rising supply as plans delayed by last year’s budget are activated and more landlords attempt to sell due to red tape.
“Buyers are more circumspect than sellers but further mortgage rate declines and increasingly realistic asking prices will support transactions this spring.”
Alastair Douglas, TotallyMoney chief executive said: “Falling mortage rates and more homes on the market is good news for those who can get on the housing ladder. But for millions of young people, the problem isn’t the rate – it’s getting a mortgage in the first place.”
Nathan Emerson, chief executive of property professionals body Propertymark, said: “With inflation dipping down earlier this month, it is hoped the Bank of England may have the confidence to bring the base rate down further when they next meet.”
Jen Lloyd, head of mortgage products and propositions at Skipton Building Society, said: “More homes coming onto the market gives people taking their first step on the ladder greater choice, and helps create a healthier, more accessible housing market for people taking their first step onto the ladder.
“At Skipton, we’re already seeing this renewed confidence reflected in our own data. Applications from first‑time buyers in January 2026 were up 42% compared with the same period last year, showing that more people are feeling ready, and able, to make their move.
“With increased supply and improving market conditions, 2026 is shaping up to be a far more encouraging year for those trying to buy their first home.”
Here are annual price changes, according to Zoopla:
Northern Ireland, 8.0%
North West, 3.3%
Scotland, 2.8%
North East, 2.5%
Wales, 2.2%
Yorkshire and the Humber, 2.1%
West Midlands, 2.0%
East Midlands, 1.0%
Eastern England, 0.6%
South West, 0.0%
South East, minus 0.1%
London, minus 0.2%.