Are house prices about to fall or rise?

As we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic, you can find statistics to prove pretty much any movement in the housing market. Up. Down. Sideways. At the beginning of the month, the Nationwide reported that house prices fell 1.7 per cent in May. The largest fall in 11 years. The latest data from Zoopla revealed that demand for housing is 54 per cent higher than at the start of March. And Savills reported a significant rise in activity across their offices in England with deals agreed, new instructions and exchanges all sharply up on previous weeks. Meanwhile the RICS says surveyors are recording falling house prices but increased activity.

So, what on earth is going on? Is that report of a drop in prices good news? And what should you do if you are planning to buy, sell or even stay put?

Try as I might to find reasons why the market may falter, I am actually fairly positive about the prospects over the coming months.