Zoopla predicts these cities will see the biggest rise in house prices in 2020

Where should we be investing our money in 2020?

The housing market has bounced back spectacularly over the last month. Buyer demand is up and house price growth is at a two year high. But what does that mean for house price inflation in cities across the UK?

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Zoopla's house price index, released today, revealed the UK cities they predict will experience the largest house price growth in 2020, and Nottingham topped the list.

House price inflation

exterior of the red brick wall house

(Image credit: Future PLC/Olly Gordon)

Zoopla ranked the UK cities on which had the best prospects for house price inflation in 2020. Housing affordability, the position of each city in the current housing cycle, discounts to asking prices and time to sell were all factored in.

House price inflation in Nottingham is currently running at 5.2 per cent. The city was found to have the strongest prospects for a continued rise in house prices.

In other words, buying in Nottingham is a pretty safe bet if you're looking to invest in property. Especially with the average house price currently sitting at £159,600.

exterior of red brick wall house

(Image credit: Future PLC/Colin Poole)

Edinburgh came in second. The average house price already sits at £242,200, but the city has seen house prices rise by 6.1 per cent in the last year. So it's safe to assume we can expect big things from house prices in the city in 2020.

Cities in the north of the UK dominated the top 10, while those in the south of England are expected to see dips in house price growth. That includes the stereotypically expensive cities of Southhampton, Oxford and London.

Zoopla suggests this limitation on house price growth is linked to the affordability of housing in the areas.

brick wall house with white window

(Image credit: Future PLC/Holly Joliffe)

'Regional cities continue to lead the way for house price inflation this year thanks to continued economic growth and more attractive affordability of housing,' explains Richard Donnel, research and insight director at Zoopla.

'The best prospects for house price growth in 2020 are in Nottingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester,' he adds. 'In contrast, we expect cities in southern England to register below-average price growth as affordability levels realign to what buyers can afford.'

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Overall, it is good news for homeowners as house prices are expected to grow on average by 3 per cent across the UK.

Rebecca Knight
Deputy Editor, Digital

Rebecca Knight has been the Deputy Editor on the Ideal Home Website since 2022. She graduated with a Masters degree in magazine journalism from City, University of London in 2018, before starting her journalism career as a staff writer on women's weekly magazines. She fell into the world of homes and interiors after joining the Ideal Home website team in 2019 as a Digital Writer. In 2020 she moved into position of Homes News Editor working across Homes & Gardens, LivingEtc, Real Homes, Gardeningetc and Ideal Home covering everything from the latest viral cleaning hack to the next big interior trend.