The Office of National Statistics released the previous year's figures on headline UK house prices showing its increase by 7.7 per cent in the year to November 2015. Experts are convinced that the numbers will continue to rise; however, looking deeply into the figures, an alarming divide between England, Wales and Scotland, can be observed, Independent reports.
With an increase of 8.3 percent in England prices over the past 12 months, the market is unquestionably very healthy, but the rest of the country is going through a completely different scene. Northern Ireland enjoyed 4.6 per cent property growth, while Wales and Scotland saw a desultory 1.3 per cent and 0.4 per cent climb respectively.
As average prices flatter in Wales and Scotland, homeowners and movers in both countries are left in a different position.
"House prices in Wales and Scotland - the last bastions of heavy industry - are dragging behind, completely out of kilter with other parts of the UK which are steaming ahead," pointed out Rob Weaver, director of investments at crowdfunding platform Property Partner.
Global economic conditions continue to batter both nations; Scotland's residential housing market will continue to feel relative pain as North Sea oil prices sink even lower. "The knock-on effect is stagnating property prices over the past year, and the future doesn't look any brighter in comparison to the rest of Britain.
"Likewise, job insecurity is hitting confidence in Wales with would-be buyers hesitating to enter the housing market," he added. "And now with the latest job losses in the country's vital steel industry, it is worrying indeed not just for property but the wider Welsh economy."
According to Brian Murphy of Mortgage Advice Bureau, economic trends directly affect house prices and housing market activity - factors like employment rates, income levels, and consumer confidence.
"Recently, both Wales and Scotland have been affected by problems in the steel and oil industry respectively," he confirmed. Limited wage growth - Wales has the lowest annual income of any UK region - and a lack of confidence in employment prospects are unlikely to encourage housing transactions."
The future also holds little promise. "Property turnover has slowed thanks to a lack of homes coming onto the market. This is a UK-wide issue, but in areas where demand is already relatively low, this is likely to exacerbate the problem."
But RICS chairman Jeremy leaf encourages consumers to go unaffected by national figures and act according to local markets instead. "There are limitations with a national average house-price index as it can mask significant regional differences.
"While such surveys are useful as a general indication as to what is going on with the market, there is no substitute for doing your own research in your locality and getting independent professional advice," he said.
Potential homebuyers in Wales and Scotland may consider offering prices below the asking price. For the booming south, that may be a hopeless tactic, but it could be Scotland and Wales' saving grace, as well as in north of England where prices remain fairly static.
Campbell Robb of Shelter warns younger people as price inflation seems a continuing trend for 2016. "The further rise in house prices is another blow to the millions of people left priced out of a home of their own," he said.
"Those without access to the bank of Mum and Dad face a lifetime of expensive and unstable private renting, unlikely to be able to save anything at all, let alone enough for the £40,000 deposit needed for a so-called 'affordable' starter home."