While the housing market has cooled over the summer demand for family homes has remained strong, data from mortgage tech provider Twenty7tec shows.
Searches for homes priced between £250,000 and £300,000 are up 31.6% year-on-year, making it the only band seeing growth.
Nathan Reilly, commercial director at Twenty7tec, said: “The volume of activity in the £250k–£300k range tells us this isn’t a market that’s flatlining.
“Instead, we’re seeing a refocus of demand – one shaped by changing affordability, mortgage rates, and life stage needs.
“If that momentum continues, it could provide some much-needed stability through the second half of the year.”
Between 21 June and 21 July 2025, compared to 20 May and 20 June 2025, total property searches fell 17.89%, compared to a 4.35% drop during the same period in 2024.
That’s the steepest monthly decline seen in recent years, with 273,296 fewer searches recorded.
July’s average asking price dropped by 1.2% (£4,531) to £373,739, with the sharpest regional decline seen in London, and the biggest drops in top-of-the-ladder homes.
Despite this, buyer demand is holding steady, with Rightmove noting a 6% increase in buyer enquiries and sales agreed up 5% year-on-year.
Reilly added: “Several factors could be contributing to the downturn in searches.
“We saw the rush that the Stamp Duty changes brought in, with almost 160,000 fewer first time buyer searches in the three months post change to before.
“This can include continued uncertainty around interest rates, high living costs, and buyers adopting a ‘wait and see’ approach.
“For some, holidays may have simply taken priority over house hunting. But for others, affordability challenges are likely forcing a pause in activity while they reassess their budgets.”
