How homeowner confidence compares where you live

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The confidence of home owners in the property market has been boosted over the past six months, a survey suggests.

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In total 84% of home-owners expect property values in their area to increase over the coming six months - up from 70% when similar research was carried out in November, according to website Zoopla.

Across the UK, only one in 12 (8%) people in the latest survey expect prices to fall in their area over the coming six months.

On average, those expecting price rises predict a 6.9% uplift over the next six months - also an increase compared with the November study, when the typical expectation was 4.9%.

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East Midlands and East of England homeowners most optimistic

Home-owners in the East Midlands and the East of England are the most optimistic about their local property market - with 93% and 90% respectively predicting house price rises over the next six months.

Zoopla spokesman Lawrence Hall said: "It's encouraging to see a bounce-back in consumer confidence in the market - it's the largest increase we've seen since 2016.

"This shows that home-owners are starting to regain their confidence in the property market, with those in the east of the UK having the most optimism."

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The South West of England is the next most optimistic region, with 89% of home-owners expecting an increase in their area's property values.

North-east England least optimistic

At the other end of the spectrum, north-east England is the least confident region, with just under two-thirds (63%) expecting rises - although this is a big increase for the region compared with November 2017, when less than half (41%) thought values in their area would increase.

After the North East, London is the next least confident region, with just over three-quarters (76%) of home-owners expecting prices to rise in their area.

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The findings were released after another property website, Rightmove, reported this week that the average price tag on a home reached a record high of £308,075 on average in May.

Home-owners in the East Midlands and the East of England are the most optimistic about their local property market (Photo: Shutterstock)

Rightmove warned, however, that the current market is becoming "increasingly price-sensitive", and said sellers need to pitch their price at a tempting level to entice buyers.

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It also said that, across Britain, different property markets are still operating at different speeds.

Zoopla also found that, when it comes to how much home-owners think prices will increase by, those in the West Midlands are the most confident - predicting values in their area will rise by 10.6% over the next six months on average.

Home-owners in the East Midlands are the next most confident, expecting growth of 9.2%.

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The lowest house price growth is expected in the North East of England, where home-owners anticipate a 2.6% increase.

More than 1,950 home owners were surveyed.

Percentages of home-owners who think house prices in their area will increase over the coming six months, according to Zoopla, followed by the average amount prices are expected to increase by:

- East Midlands, 93%, 9.2%

- East of England, 90%, 7.6%

- South West England, 89%, 6.7%

- West Midlands, 88%, 10.6%

- Scotland, 87%, 8.6%

- Wales, 86%, 7.3%

- South East England, 84%, 6.1%

- North West England, 84%, 6.3%

- Yorkshire and the Humber, 84%, 5%

- London, 76%, 6%

- North East England, 63%, 2.6%