If Week 15 felt like a rebound, Week 16 brings something a little more grounded: a reality check.
On the surface, things still look healthy. Sales agreed have ticked up again to 26,394, which is a solid figure by any measure. Demand hasn’t disappeared—in fact, year to date, sales are still running ahead of 2024. Buyers are definitely still active i
But the deeper picture is shifting.
More Homes, Same Buyers
New listings have jumped to 40,178, which remains well above the long-term average.
That’s the key dynamic right now:
- More homes are coming to market
- But the buyer pool isn’t expanding at the same pace
So instead of a rising tide lifting all boats, we’re seeing something else—increasing competition between sellers.
A More Selective Market
The result is a market that’s becoming more selective each week.
The numbers make that clear: only 53.4% of homes are selling and completing. That means nearly half of properties entering the market aren’t making it across the finish line.
That isn’t a small fluctuation. It’s a clear signal: the market is starting to discriminate more sharply between what’s well-positioned and what isn’t.
Prices Are Holding—But Only for the Right Homes
Despite this, pricing hasn’t collapsed. In fact, it’s holding steady.
- Average price per square foot: £345
- Still up year on year
Buyers are still willing to pay strong prices—but only under the right conditions:
- Correct pricing from the start
- Strong presentation
- Realistic expectations
In short, the “good” homes are still moving. The rest are sitting.
Rents: Stable, Not Surging
The rental market tells a similar story of stability rather than volatility.
- Average rent: £1,821 per month
That’s slightly above the year-to-date average, but still below 2025 peaks. There’s no dramatic surge, no shortage-driven panic—just a market gradually settling into balance.
So What Does Week 16 Really Tell Us?
This isn’t a boom market. But it isn’t a downturn either.
It’s something more nuanced: a squeeze.
- More sellers entering the market
- Buyers taking more time and being more selective
- A widening gap between well-prepared listings and everything else
And that gap is becoming the defining feature of the market.
Because in this environment, simply being listed isn’t enough.
You don’t win by being on the market.
You win by being in demand.
The Bottom Line
Week 16 isn’t about demand disappearing—it’s about discipline increasing.
Those who price correctly, present well, and position strategically are still achieving results.
Those who don’t are learning a harder lesson:
the market has choices now, and it’s using them.
