Britain's housing market appears to be “firmly back on track” following news that prices in September moved within touching distance of record highs.
Halifax reported earlier that prices ticked up by 4.7% in September to £293,399, a third successive month of growth.
This marked the fastest uptick since November 2022 leaving prices around £1,000 off record highs.
“The recovery is real but not rocket-fuelled,” Garrington Property Finders chief executive Jonathan Hopper commented.
“Prices are rising fastest in more affordable locations as buyers who are fed up with waiting to seek more for their money.
“Nevertheless the market is firmly back on track and on course to end the year on a high.”
Anticipations are for the Bank of England to cut base interest at least once more this year, further fuelling reductions to mortgage rates.
“The prospect of cheaper mortgages and the sense that now is the time to strike before house prices climb too high has spurred many would-be buyers into action,” Hopper said.
Bestinvest analyst Alice Haine added: “Provided inflation remains in check and interest rates continue to ease, housing market activity is expected to continue strengthening in line with easing affordability levels.
"For now optimism is back, with the housing market in better health than a year ago when mortgage rates were still alarmingly high.”
Some warned the uptick in demand had been fuelled by people pushing through deals before this month's Autumn Budget.
"The focus now is on the autumn Budget and the hope is that it doesn’t undo all the momentum that has grown over the summer and put us back where we started,” Andrew Montlake, director at mortgage broker Coreco, said.