Recent analysis has revealed a striking disparity in how quickly homes are selling across different regions of England. According to data released by GetAgent, a comparison site for estate agents, only 14% of properties listed for sale in the last 30 days have found buyers nationwide. However, this figure significantly increases in certain urban areas, painting a varied picture of the real estate market across major cities.

Cities Leading the Race

In an in-depth examination of for-sale listings from Zoopla, GetAgent has uncovered that certain cities are seeing much faster sales rates. Sheffield leads the way, with nearly 23% of homes listed within the last month already under offer or sold subject to contract. Bristol is not far behind, with 22.6% of homes finding buyers in the same timeframe.

Newcastle and Leeds also report strong sales, with more than 20% of homes listed being snapped up within 30 days. These figures suggest that estate agents in these cities are effectively attracting buyers despite broader market challenges.

Contrasting Performance in Major Cities

While some cities are experiencing brisk sales, others are lagging significantly. Leicester, for instance, sees only 9.8% of its listings moving within 30 days, marking it as the area with the slowest sales pace. London and Birmingham also show less encouraging figures, with 11.6% and 15.8% of homes respectively finding buyers within a month.

Insights from Industry Experts

Colby Short, co-founder and CEO of GetAgent, shares his perspective on the findings. He notes that even in areas with the fastest sales, the proportion of properties securing buyers within the first 30 days is relatively low. This highlights the ongoing challenges within the market, such as deal completions and the need for relisting properties that don’t sell initially.

Short commends the efforts of estate agents who succeed in these tough conditions by setting appropriate prices and maximising the exposure of their listings. According to him, these practices are crucial for overcoming the hurdles of the current real estate market.