More than 50% of properties in England and Wales are sold within a two-month period. – TNT

Residential properties in England and Wales spend an average of 36 days on the market before a sale is agreed, according to new data from Zoopla.

Over half – 52% – of sales are agreed within the first two months of a home being listed, a 3% increase from last year (49%).

To complete a sale, sellers and buyers will typically need another 4-6 months, depending on the complexity of the transaction.

There are significant regional variations in the time to sell, with available stock, demand and pricing all playing an important role. Homes tend to sell faster in areas with lower house prices which are more affordable to more households. Homes in northern regions of England tend to sell faster than homes in southern regions, where prices are higher.

Homes in the North West and North East regions of England take on average 32 days to sell and account for six of the top ten fastest moving markets in England and Wales (Manchester, Carlisle, Stockport Gateshead, Newcastle upon Tyne and Halton).

However, Waltham Forest in North East London tops the list this year when it comes to the fastest moving markets in England and Wales, sitting at an average of 19 days. The London borough is accessible and enjoys good schools, low burglary and crime rates, and a large number of green areas, making it a popular location for families looking to stay within commuting distance of central London.

Table 1: Fastest moving markets in England and Wales

Source: Zoopla Research

Days on the market for homes listed for sale in the previous 3 months

* Sold subject to contract median asking price

When it comes to the entirety of the UK, homes in Scotland tend to move the fastest, spending an average of 21 days on the market before a sale is agreed. This is 13 days faster than the UK average of 34 days. Scotland has a different system from England and Wales, with homes listed with a Home Report, a pack of three documents that give buyers a clear picture of the condition of the property. In addition, homes are marketed as ‘offers over’ the asking price.

There are wide regional variations when it comes to the average time to sell a home, with the availability of homes for sale, price levels and buyer demand playing an important role. An 11 per cent growth in homes for sale year-on-year means that getting the sale price right is important for those sellers keen to secure a home and move in 2025.

Homes that are priced incorrectly for the local market will take longer to achieve a sale or may not sell at all. Where homes don’t attract sufficient demand and sellers, and agents reduce the asking price by 5 per cent or more, these homes take almost twice as long to sell, an average of 43 days.

While buyer demand has increased across southern England, it is failing to keep pace with the increase in homes for sale. With 150 councils across the UK introducing double council tax for second homes, second-home hotspots like coastal towns are seeing a boost in supply, something that is significantly affecting the length of time it takes for properties to sell in these areas.

Properties in East Lindsay in the East Midlands, an area known for its stunning coastline that includes seaside towns like Skegness and Mablethorpe, are taking on average 59 days to sell, with homes in the Welsh county Gwynedd, another second home hotspot that has increased council tax by 150 per cent, also taking an average of 59 days to sell.

Table 2: Slowest-moving markets in the UK 

Source: Zoopla Research

Two and three-bed homes are the fastest-selling property type, with flats and 4+ bed homes taking longer to sell due to increased supply and greater choice for home buyers. The average time to sell a two-bed home is 23 days, two days faster than the previous year.

Fastest-selling homes by type:

Two- and three-bed homes appeal to several types of buyers. They are generally seen as better value for money, particularly for first-time buyers. Downsizing empty-nesters, who are not ready to give up elements like a garden or more living space, may also look to buy this type of home.

Flats and four-plus bed homes take the longest time to find a buyer, taking an average of 31 days and 38 days, respectively. The early weeks of 2025 saw a double-digit increase (18 per cent) in the number of flats on the market, with a more modest increase of seven per cent in the number of houses for sale. This increase in supply is running well ahead of new sales agreed, something that is significantly impacting the time to sell for these types of properties.

Richard Donnell, executive director at Zoopla, commented: “It currently takes just over a month to agree a home sale across England and Wales but this varies widely across the country and by property type with smaller family homes the fastest selling homes.

“Metrics like time to sell and average sale price are crucial in helping would-be sellers understand the value of their home and the asking price they could secure in 2025. Buyers have a lot more choice of homes for sale than a year ago. Aiming too high on the asking price is likely to impact saleability and how long you may have to wait to agree a sale.

‘This is partly why Zoopla’s MyHome is seeing such significant user engagement, with 1.6m homeowners returning to the tool every month. This is just the beginning, with more innovation planned in Zoopla’s pipeline that will better educate sellers and ultimately connect more motivated movers with agents to deliver improved ROI.”

Industry response:

Tom Bill, head of UK residential research at Knight Frank, commented: “Affordability continues to play an important role in shaping the UK property market, which means lower-value locations tend to experience stronger price growth and greater liquidity. In an environment where mortgage rates are four times higher than in 2021 and US trade policy has created concerns about a global economic slowdown, asking prices need to be realistic rather than ambitious.”

Nigel Bishop, founder of Recoco Property Search, says: “Setting the right asking price often dictates how quickly a property will sell. Some sellers learn this the hard way and are eventually forced to accept a price reduction. It’s simple, really. House hunters base their search on various criteria but the budget tends to be the deciding factor. Whilst some properties will demand a premium due to location or nearby amenities, we are seeing fewer buyers willing to enter bidding wars – especially in parts of the UK where numerous properties have been put up for sale.”

Toby Leek, NAEA Propertymark president, added: “As the year progresses it’s extremely upbeat to witness a strong sense of self-assurance from buyers approaching the housing market. Regions such as the North West and North East have seen phenomenal growth over the last twenty-five years in terms of new infrastructure and jobs market appeal.

“This in turn has magnetised people towards certain towns and cities, as homebuyers search out a perfect location to potentially settle. There has been considerable public and private investment within such areas, with many large companies also choosing to locate their staff within key northern locations for the same positive reasons – mainly based on enhanced transport links and lower costs.”