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How long does it take to sell a house in 2026?
Homes that went under offer in September 2026 had been on the market for a median of 44 days. Glasgow is fastest at 14 days; parts of London take over 80. Here's what speeds a sale up.
- Glasgow (G)
- 14
- Paisley (PA)
- 15
- Kilmarnock (KA)
- 18
- Edinburgh (EH)
- 22
In this article
A typical home takes six to nine weeks to find a buyer. Homes that went under offer in September 2026 had been on the market for a median of 44 days, according to home.co.uk listings. Our Home Asking Price Index, which measures it differently, put it at 61 days. After the offer, expect several more months before completion.
Selling has slowed over the past year. A year earlier, the Home Asking Price Index put a typical sale at 39 days.
How long does it take to find a buyer?
Half of the 11,954 homes that went under offer in September found a buyer within 44 days. A quarter took 15 days or less, and a quarter took 109 days or more.
How we worked this out: for every home for sale on home.co.uk that went under offer in the month, the days from first listing to the first offer, excluding commercial property and anything under £20,000. It only counts homes that found a buyer, so homes still waiting aren't in it, which means the real wait for some sellers is longer. Homes drop out of our data once they sell, so we only measure the latest month and don't compare it with earlier ones. The Home Asking Price Index uses a different sample and method, which is why its figure is higher.
Where do houses sell fastest?
Scotland is quickest by a distance. London and the South coast are slowest. These are the postcode areas with at least 150 homes going under offer in September:
| Postcode area | Median days to an offer |
|---|---|
| Glasgow (G) | 14 |
| Paisley (PA) | 15 |
| Kilmarnock (KA) | 18 |
| Edinburgh (EH) | 22 |
| Northampton (NN) | 25 |
| Liverpool (L) | 30 |
| Newcastle upon Tyne (NE) | 33 |
| Cardiff (CF) | 42 |
| Birmingham (B) | 46 |
| Chester (CH) | 56 |
| South West London (SW) | 69 |
| North London (N) | 76 |
| West London (W) | 81 |
| South East London (SE) | 84 |
| Bournemouth (BH) | 90 |
Part of Scotland's speed is the system. Many Scottish homes are sold through a closing date, with sealed offers due by a set day, which compresses the time to an offer.
Which homes sell fastest?
Semi-detached houses and cheaper homes sell quickest. Larger and pricier homes take longest.
| Property | Median days to an offer |
|---|---|
| Semi-detached house | 32 |
| Terraced house | 37 |
| Flat | 49 |
| Bungalow | 50 |
| Detached house | 58 |
| Bedrooms | Median days |
|---|---|
| 1 | 52 |
| 2 | 42 |
| 3 | 37 |
| 4 | 52 |
| 5 or more | 66 |
| Asking price | Median days |
|---|---|
| Under £200,000 | 32 |
| £200,000 to £350,000 | 38 |
| £350,000 to £500,000 | 50 |
| £500,000 to £1 million | 68 |
| Over £1 million | 66 |
The three-bedroom house is the sweet spot. It's what the most buyers want, and at a price most of them can borrow.
Does reducing the price help?
Homes that sold without a price cut found a buyer in a median of 24 days. The 28% that were reduced first took a median of 127 days. That doesn't mean cutting the price slows a sale. It means the homes that needed a cut had usually sat unsold for months first. The lesson is to price right at the start: a home that's priced right sells in weeks, and one that isn't can sit for months before a cut brings the offer.
How do I sell my house faster?
- Price it right on day one. Check what similar homes nearby are listed at and what they sold for. An instant valuation is a quick starting point before agents visit.
- Choose the agent on results, not the valuation. The agent who quotes highest isn't always the one who sells. Find My Agent compares local agents on how fast and how close to asking price they sell, and our guide to choosing an estate agent covers what to ask.
- Get the listing right. Good photos, a floor plan and an honest description matter. Some words in a listing are linked to slower sales: see the words that cost property sales six weeks.
- Be ready to move. Buyers favour sellers who aren't stuck in a chain, so line up your next home or somewhere to rent if you can.
How long from offer to completion?
Finding a buyer is only the first part. After an offer is accepted, the legal work (searches, mortgage, survey and the exchange of contracts) usually takes several months more. The government's How to sell a home guide sets out each step, and Homemove covers that side of a move, from conveyancing quotes to removals.
More in Selling your home: the Home guide
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to sell a house in the UK?
Homes that went under offer in September 2026 had been on the market for a median of 44 days, so about six weeks. Then the legal work to completion typically takes several more months.
Where do houses sell fastest?
Scotland. In September 2026 homes in the Glasgow postcode area went under offer after a median of 14 days, and Edinburgh after 22. The slowest areas included South East London at 84 days and Bournemouth at 90.
What type of house sells fastest?
Semi-detached houses, at a median of 32 days to an offer in September 2026, followed by terraced houses at 37. Detached houses took the longest, at 58 days.
Is the housing market slowing down?
Yes, in time to sell, though not much in price. Our Home Asking Price Index put a typical sale at 61 days in September 2026, against 39 days in September 2025.
