Homebuyer demand slips in Q2 2026
Buyer demand slips in Q2 2026, with North and Midlands continuing to outperform southern markets
The latest sales demand data from eXp UK has revealed that homebuyer demand in England slipped by -1.1% in Q2 2026. The analysis also reveals a continued regional divide, with a number of counties in the North and Midlands recording positive demand growth while many southern markets saw buyer demand weaken.
eXp UK analysed current buyer demand across each county in England based on the number of homes listed for sale to have already seen an offer agreed, before comparing the current market landscape with the previous quarter as well as the same time last year, to see how the appetite for homeownership has shifted.
The latest figures for Q2 2026 show that, across England, overall sales demand stood at 41.2%. This marks a quarterly dip of -1.1% compared to Q1 2026, and an annual drop of -1.2% since the same period last year.
Biggest quarterly climbs
The biggest quarterly demand increase has been recorded in the East Riding of Yorkshire, where growth of +3.1% leaves the current level of demand at 41.2%.
This is followed by Lancashire (+0.7%), the City of London (+0.7%), Greater Manchester (+0.5%), and Northumberland (+0.5%). Tyne and Wear and Merseyside also saw demand increase during the quarter, both rising by +0.5% and +0.4% respectively.
Meanwhile, the biggest quarterly drops were seen in Dorset (-4.0%), the City of Bristol (-2.6%), Surrey (-2.6%), Rutland (-2.5%), and Northamptonshire (-2.4%).
Annual changes
On an annual basis, the biggest buyer demand increase has been recorded in the East Riding of Yorkshire, which has seen growth of +3.6% to bring the current demand level to 41.2%.
This is followed by Merseyside (+2.3%), Lancashire (+1.9%), Derbyshire (+1.1%), and Tyne and Wear (+1.0%).
Meanwhile, the biggest annual drops were recorded in Cambridgeshire (-4.5%), Bedfordshire (-4.4%), the City of London (-4.4%), Oxfordshire (-3.9%), and Hertfordshire (-3.6%).
Overall demand
This most recent change means that the highest level of homebuyer demand in England is now found in the City of Bristol (53.8%), Tyne and Wear (53.7%), South Yorkshire (51.4%), Greater Manchester (49.6%), and Merseyside (49.5%).
Buyer appetite is at its weakest in the City of London (14.8%), the Isle of Wight (26.0%), and Cornwall (29.7%).
Head of eXp UK and Europe, Adam Day, commented:
“The latest figures suggest that buyer demand remains relatively stable despite a modest quarterly decline at the national level. What continues to stand out is the resilience being shown by many markets across the North and Midlands, where affordability remains comparatively stronger and buyer activity has generally held up better.
At the same time, many southern counties continue to face greater affordability pressures, which can have a more pronounced impact on purchasing decisions and transaction volumes. As a result, we’re seeing a market where regional performance varies considerably depending on local market conditions.
The fact that demand remains above 50% in areas such as Bristol, Tyne and Wear and South Yorkshire demonstrates that committed buyers are still active, even against a backdrop of wider economic uncertainty. Rather than a broad-based slowdown, the market continues to show signs of regional rebalancing, with local affordability and buyer confidence playing an increasingly important role in shaping demand.”
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