Properties in Motherwell, Scotland are five times more likely to find a buyer within three months compared to homes in north west London, according to new data from Zoopla.
The portal’s analysis of homes listed for sale between April and June 2026 reveals significant regional disparities in selling times across the UK, with Scottish markets dominating the faster end of the spectrum.
Regional performance
In Motherwell, 86% of properties found a buyer within three months, compared with just 16% in north west London. Glasgow recorded an 83% success rate, whilst Edinburgh achieved 78%.
Zoopla attributed Scotland’s stronger performance to greater affordability and the country’s Home Report system, which includes a valuation and survey prior to marketing. This approach supports buyer confidence and encourages more realistic pricing from the outset.
The data shows that London and southern England face more challenging conditions. Higher property prices expose buyers to increased mortgage costs, whilst stamp duty adds to transaction expenses.
Market shifts
Year-on-year comparisons reveal substantial changes in local markets. Glasgow saw an 8.5 percentage point increase in the proportion of homes finding a buyer within three months, followed by Preston at 8.2 percentage points and Motherwell at 5.2 percentage points.
Conversely, Telford recorded the largest decline at 11.5 percentage points, with Halifax down 10.3 percentage points and Falkirk falling 10.1 percentage points.
The analysis found that properties requiring a price reduction are approximately half as likely to find a buyer within three months compared to those priced correctly initially.
Pricing strategy
Richard Donnell, Executive Director at Zoopla, stated: “With more homes for sale, buyers have greater choice and sellers need to be realistic about their asking price. One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is pricing their property based on what they need to buy their next home, rather than what buyers are prepared to pay.”
He added that sellers who price competitively when first listing stand a significantly better chance of attracting interest and agreeing a sale.
The findings come as downsizers increasingly factor equity requirements into their selling decisions, whilst Edinburgh’s property market continues to deliver returns for investors.
The data suggests that regional market dynamics and pricing strategies remain critical factors for vendors looking to complete sales within typical timeframes.
