Average home prices in the UK climbed past £300,000 for the first time this January, hitting a record high of £300,077, according to figures from Halifax. Prices rose by 0.7% over the course of the month, marking the strongest growth since November 2024. The head of mortgages at Halifax noted that while the market is currently stable, buyers are still struggling to afford homes. The lender expects prices to grow modestly by 1% to 3% this year. Nationwide, another major mortgage provider, reported a lower average price of £270,873 and had previously forecast a 2% to 4% increase for the year.