How Fast Is the Property Market Moving Right Now?
One of the questions I’m often asked by homeowners in Lancaster and Morecambe is a simple one:
“If I put my house on the market, how quickly is it likely to sell?”
The answer is… it depends. And right now, the numbers across the UK paint quite an interesting picture.
Across England and Wales, the average time it takes to sell a property is currently around 40 days. That’s the national benchmark. But as with most things in property, the reality on the ground varies significantly depending on where you are.
A Tale of Two Markets
In some parts of the country, homes are selling faster than others.
For example, in Greater London, the average time to sell sits at around 44 days, while the South East averages about 41 days. These higher-priced regions tend to move a little more slowly, largely because buyers are often working with bigger budgets, larger mortgages and more complex chains.
At the other end of the scale, the most affordable areas are seeing quicker sales. Scotland currently leads the way, with homes selling in an average of just 23 days, followed by the North East at around 31 days.
Where the North West Sits
Here in the North West, the average time to sell is around 37 days, which places us among the faster-moving regions in England.
That’s encouraging because it shows that, overall, buyer demand remains strong across our part of the country. But averages can sometimes hide what’s really happening locally. And when we zoom in closer to home, the picture becomes a little more nuanced.
What’s Happening in Lancaster?
In Lancaster, the current average time for a property to sell is around 82 days.
Now, that might sound longer than the regional or national averages, but there’s an important reason behind it. Lancaster has a very diverse property market — from student lets and city terraces to family homes and higher-value period properties. Different types of homes attract different buyers, and some naturally take longer to find the right match.
What I’m seeing on the ground is that well-priced homes that are presented well are still attracting strong interest and selling relatively quickly.
And What About Morecambe?
Over in Morecambe, the average time to sell is currently around 116 days.
Again, this doesn’t mean homes aren’t selling — they absolutely are. But it does reinforce something we’ve been talking about with many sellers recently: today’s market is far more price-sensitive than it was a few years ago. Buyers are still out there, but they are taking their time, comparing options, and looking carefully at value.
The Key to Selling in Today’s Market
What all of this really highlights is the importance of pricing strategy.
In a market where buyers have choice, the homes that generate the most interest are typically the ones that come to the market at the right price from day one. Overpricing can often mean a property sits on the market longer than expected, which sometimes leads to price reductions later on — and that can ultimately slow things down even further.
Local Knowledge Matters
This is why understanding local market dynamics is so important.
National headlines can give a useful overview, but property markets are always hyper-local. What’s happening in London, or even Manchester, can be very different to what we’re seeing here in Lancaster and Morecambe. And that’s where local insight makes all the difference.
If you’re thinking about selling and want to understand what your home could realistically achieve in today’s market — and how quickly it might sell — I’m always happy to have a chat. Sometimes a short conversation can give you a much clearer picture of the opportunities in the current market.
Thanks for reading
James