Banish the Brexit blues – the top homebuyer hotspots revealed

The latest research by estate agent comparison site GetAgent has revealed that Falkirk, Bristol and Sale are currently some of the most sought-after areas for UK homebuyers.

The firm analysed the level of buyer activity in 100 of the largest towns and cities across the nation, ranking each area with a demand percentage score based on the number of homes sold subject to contract or under offer.

It found that buyer demand across these UK towns and cities currently sits at 41% – a 1% drop on the previous quarter with no movement on an annual basis.

In London, current demand is at 35% – up 2% on the previous quarter and 4% year-on-year.

The hottest spots right now

Falkirk is home to the highest level of homebuyer demand in the UK at 61%, with Bristol and Sale hot on its heels with scores of 59% and 58% respectively.

North of the border, Glasgow and Edinburgh (57%) also prove popular with homebuyers, while commuter towns Woking and Dartford (56%), along with Sheffield (55%), Exeter (54%) and Cambridge (52%), also rank in the top 10.

In the capital, Bexley retains its title as one of the most in-demand boroughs for London homebuyers at 59%, with other surrounding boroughs such as Waltham Forest (57%), Havering (49%), Sutton (49%) and Bromley (46%) ranking high.

Lewisham, Hillingdon, Barking and Dagenham, Kingston and Redbridge are also amongst some of the most popular London boroughs to buy in at present.

Biggest changes in demand

Woking, Cambridge and Bournemouth have seen some of the largest quarterly uplifts in demand, increasing between 4.7-6.8%. In London, a prime central fightback sees the City of London, Westminster, and Kensington and Chelsea top the table.

Annually, Woking tops the list again, with demand up 14% since the start of the year, along with Exeter and Bristol. Waltham Forest, Redbridge and Sutton are the London boroughs where homebuyer activity has increased the most over the last year.

Colby Short, founder and chief executive officer of GetAgent, comments: “Nationally, we sit pretty much where we were a year ago where current levels of buyer demand are concerned and while festive seasonality has a part to play, it may also take a little while longer before December’s election boost in buyer sentiment becomes apparent at a top-level.”

“However, the UK property market is extremely diverse and it’s clear that some areas have already jumped the gun with notable uplifts in buyer demand levels both year on year and in the last quarter alone, with many pockets also enjoying very high levels of current buyer demand despite wider market conditions.”

Short says although the more affordable boroughs around the capital’s borders continue to be the most popular among buyers, there are signs that prime central London is beginning to fight back with demand on the up at the top end of the market.

He concludes: “With early signs of a market revival already this year, we should see buyer demand continue to climb as the months go by and this, in turn, will help to stimulate an otherwise sluggish rate of house price growth.”