For the month of November a survey from Halifax showed 14% of households believe the value of their homes has increased.

Demand for housing is a third higher than a year ago although it has been slowing since the start of the stamp duty holiday.

It helps sellers and buyers if properties can sell fast and here are the results from Zoopla of the top 20 fastest selling UK homes.

Lockdown demand remains high with new sellers pricing keenly to complete before the stamp duty holiday which ends next March.

Mortgages numbers have halved in the last three months and rates are higher as cautious lenders prepare for the end of the furlough scheme.

The happiest place in Britain is Northern Ireland overtaking the South West with London remaining as the unhappiest place to live.

Demand for property from new buyers entering the market has maintained pressure on house prices rising 2.6% for the year.

Second steppers looking for larger homes are driving the price of three and four bedroom properties to new record high prices.

Property prices for first time buyers in London rise by 98% over the decade and deposits are more than double the national average.

Homebuyers are more reliant than ever on the bank of mum and dad funding nearly a quarter of all housing transactions.

HSBC has cut rates to 1.14% on higher loan to values benefiting existing homeowners looking to move or remortgage.

Help to Buy schemes have been extended to March 2021 allowing thousands of homeowners to complete on their new build properties.