House prices in Brighton inched up in April, offering a glimmer of hope after months of decline. But prices are still playing catch-up compared to this time last year.

Across sunny Sussex, the property market showed signs of life with prices climbing by a welcome 4% in some areas. However, the government’s UK House Price Index reveals that the cost-of-living crisis continues to cast a shadow, with prices across the county remaining lower than a year ago.

Brighton – A Mixed Bag for Buyers and Sellers

In Brighton and Hove, the average house price reached £421,946 in April, a small but encouraging 1.1% rise compared to March. Sadly for sellers, this still represents a 4.1% drop compared to April 2022, one of the steepest declines in the region.

First-time buyers will be relieved to hear that they are currently paying an average of £14,000 less than last year. However, before you start celebrating, remember prices are still a hefty £50,000 higher than in 2019!

Flats in Brighton saw the biggest monthly boost but, mirroring the overall trend, prices are down compared to last year.

Chichester Holds Strong While Lewes Falters

Looking across the county, Chichester wears the crown for the highest average house price at a cool £448,014. It’s also one of the few areas where prices have defied the national trend and actually increased (by a modest 0.3%) in the past year. That said, Chichester did see a slight dip of 0.1% between March and April.

Adur residents saw the biggest monthly jump in house prices, with a significant 4% surge. On the flip side, Lewes experienced the most dramatic fall, with prices plummeting by over 10% compared to last year. Ouch!

South East Feels The Pinch

Zooming out, the South East as a whole saw house prices dip by 0.4% over the past year. This is in contrast to the national picture, where the average UK home increased in value by £3,000.