As we edge towards the end of the year, I’ve been reflecting on what has actually happened in both the UK and Lancaster property markets throughout 2025. At JDG, we track the market every single day — not just house prices, but listings, sales agreed, completions and the changing patterns behind them. It gives us a clearer, more honest picture of what’s really going on for Lancaster homeowners, landlords and buyers.
All the figures I’m sharing are up to 16 November for each year, so we’re comparing like for like.
What’s been happening across the UK?
Over the past three years, the UK has quietly become more active. Not boom-time busy, but busy in a steady, reassuring way.
More homes have been coming onto the market each year.
• 2023: 1.40 million
• 2024: 1.52 million
• 2025: 1.56 million
Asking prices, interestingly, have barely moved. What has changed is the mix of homes being listed. Smaller properties and higher-end homes have increased their share, which pushes up the £/sq.ft figure even when headline prices stay stable.
Sales have followed the same pattern.
• 2023: 824,665 homes went under offer
• 2024: 958,239
• 2025: 997,472
And completions have risen too — a very positive sign.
What stands out most is this: UK house prices haven’t really gone up, but the number of homes selling has risen sharply. When you work in property every day, you learn quickly that transaction levels — not prices — are the truest measure of market health.
So why the increased activity? Five key reasons:
- Mortgage rates have eased, tempting back buyers who paused during the rate spikes.
- Wages have grown faster than inflation, restoring some affordability.
- Unemployment remains low, giving people confidence to commit to big decisions.
- Lifestyle shifts continue, with many still prioritising space and flexibility.
- New-build levels simply aren’t keeping up with demand, a long-term issue driving competition.
This combination has created a stable, fairly busy national market — not overheated, but certainly active.
Lancaster’s market: 2023 vs 2024 vs 2025
Closer to home, Lancaster (LA1 and LA2 combined) has had a quietly strong three years.
Homes coming to market:
• 2023: 1,548
• 2024: 1,734
• 2025: 1,815
Completions:
• 2023: 881
• 2024: 913
• 2025: 921
So we’re seeing more people choosing to sell, and more sales actually getting over the line — always a sign of a healthier market.
Achieved prices have remained fairly steady:
• 2023: £251,601
• 2024: £268,450
• 2025: £257,487
This slight softening in 2025 is less about values falling and more about the mix of properties sold. Lancaster has had more small, starter-style homes completing this year, which naturally brings the average down.
But overall, the story is positive: more listings, more completed sales, and a market driven by genuine demand rather than speculation.
Will Lancaster follow the national trend in 2026?
Not exactly — it rarely does. Lancaster tends to move in its own calm, steady rhythm.
National trends such as mortgage rates and wage growth do influence us, but local factors matter more:
• employment levels
• local infrastructure improvements
• the student and hospital rental markets
• the mix of homes coming up for sale
• demographic shifts
All these shape activity on our LA1 and LA2 streets.
One statistic I think really highlights Lancaster’s strength is this:
In the past two years, 58.45% of Lancaster listings resulted in a sale — compared with just 53% across the UK.
That’s quite a difference.
And here’s another important one:
Across the UK, 53% of homes that sell do so within 35 days, and 71% within 63 days.
Speed matters more than most people realise. Denton House Research looked at over 2 million home sales and found:
• If you find a buyer within 25 days, you have a 94% chance of reaching completion.
• If it takes more than 100 days, that chance drops to 56%.
Price plays a huge part in that. Hamptons found that homes typically sell within 0.9%–1.3% of the asking price they were listed at when they went under offer — not after a reduction. A realistic starting price is incredibly powerful.
My thoughts as a local Lancaster agent
Every day, I study what sells in Lancaster, what doesn’t, and why. After years of tracking this, the rule remains the same:
The first few weeks on the market are everything.
Lancaster buyers are switched on. If a home is priced sensibly, presented well and promoted properly, it will sell — and usually quite quickly. But start too high, and you lose that crucial early momentum.
If you’re planning a move in 2026 and want a strategy that’s grounded in real Lancaster data, I’d be delighted to help. Together, we can position your home to attract the right buyers and achieve a smooth, successful sale.
Thanks for reading and if you have any questions, I’m always here to help!
Michelle x
