Overview
- New Zoopla research that pairs a March survey with Q1 sales data reports that 44% of homes listed in the past three years did not sell.
- Homes that did complete in Q1 2026 sold on average for 3.5% below the asking price, and 53% of sellers reduced their price to attract a buyer.
- Among owners whose homes failed to sell, 34% later said they had set the price too high, and Zoopla estimates that adding 5% over local comparables cuts selling odds by about 5%.
- Seller habits fed mispricing, with 61% viewing other homes before valuing theirs, 32% offering on a new place first, and 21% setting the price on what they needed for their next move.
- Agents say higher mortgage costs have cooled demand and report slower legal checks, with Connells noting leasehold homes now take about 155 days to reach exchange, roughly 58 days longer than freeholds.