Housing market springs back into life
The latest research by Yopa reveals that as Spring begins, 6.3% more homes are on England’s housing market today compared to the start of the year, with some counties seeing increases of more than 16%, showcasing growing seller confidence in a market that is on the up.
Yopa has analysed residential listings data from March 2026*, with the analysis showing an estimated 471,619 homes currently listed on the market across England.
This marks an annual increase of 3.3% compared to March 2025, and is up 6.3% compared to the turn of the year.
Yopa’s analysis of data across 48 English counties reveals that growth since the start of the year has been even greater in many corners of the country.
In the City of Bristol, there are 16.7% more properties for sale than at the start of 2026, while in Hertfordshire, the increase stands at 16.1%.
This is followed by Surrey (15.5%), Buckinghamshire (14.9%), and Wiltshire (14.1%), while double-digit growth has also been recorded in Berkshire (12.6%), Cambridgeshire (12.5%), Hampshire (12.2%), Oxfordshire (12.2%), and Bedfordshire (11.3%).
The only counties to have seen the number of listings fall since the start of the year are Staffordshire (-1.6%), Shropshire (-1.4%), South Yorkshire (-1.2%), Lancashire (-1%), and Lincolnshire (-0.2%).
Meanwhile, the biggest annual listings jump has been recorded in the City of London where the number of properties for sale increased by 15.8% between March 2025 and March 2026. This is followed by Oxfordshire (12.4%), Cambridgeshire (11.5%), Hertfordshire (11.2%), Wiltshire (11%), Buckinghamshire (10.8%), Bedfordshire (10.6%), and Berkshire (10.1%).
Verona Frankish, Chief Executive Officer at Yopa, commented:
“England’s housing market is showing real signs of growth in 2026, with listings well up on the start of the year. What we’re seeing is renewed seller confidence translating into greater choice for buyers, which is helping to rebalance what has been a supply-constrained market in recent times.
For sellers, increased competition means pricing strategy is more important than ever. Homes that are accurately priced and well presented from the outset are far more likely to secure strong interest and avoid prolonged time on the market. Overpricing in the current climate can quickly lead to stagnation or prolonged negotiations.
Indeed, for buyers, this uplift in stock brings greater negotiating power and more opportunity to find the right property, but the best homes are still attracting significant attention. Acting decisively and being prepared remains key.
Overall, this increase in supply is a positive step towards a more balanced and fluid market.”
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