The average asking price of a home has jumped to £338,447 - a record high for the fourth month in a row and £21,389 higher than it was just six months ago, says property website Rightmove.
The first half of this year was the busiest it has ever recorded with 140,000 more sales agreed than average as the stamp duty holiday helped drive purchases.
The surge triggered a shortfall of 225,000 homes for sale with the average number available per estate agency branch at a record low of 16, compared to an average for this time of year of 31.
Daily Mail