Asking price of properties popular with UK first-time buyers hits record

Average of 224,963 for homes with one or two bedrooms is 2% higher than a year ago, says Rightmove

Those people hoping to get on to the UK housing ladder are facing record asking prices, as calm returns to the sector after last autumn's mini-budget spooked the markets.

Rightmove, the property portal, reports that the average asking price of properties popular with first-time buyers - those with one or two bedrooms - has hit a record price of 224,963 in the last month. That is 2% higher than a year ago, even though higher mortgage rates have made homes less affordable.