Why 60% of Homes Are Taking Six Months to Sell in 2025

If you've been thinking about selling your home, you might want to prepare for a longer wait than you'd hoped. According to Zoopla's latest House Price Index, three in five properties that went on the market since January are still sitting unsold. That's a significant shift from the faster-moving market many sellers remember from recent years, and it reflects a broader cooling in buyer demand across the UK.

Sales taking longer to complete

The data shows that sales agreed over the past four weeks are down 7% compared to the same period last year. More tellingly, buyer demand has fallen even harder than this drop in sales activity. This mismatch between the number of people looking to buy and the number of homes available suggests we're in a market where sellers may need to adjust their expectations on both price and timescales.

When properties sit on the market for six months or longer, it creates a ripple effect throughout the housing chain. Buyers may become more cautious, wondering whether to wait for better deals. Sellers who need to move for work or family reasons face added stress and uncertainty. And for those trying to remortgage at the end of a fixed-rate deal, the timing complications can become very real indeed.

Why the market has slowed

Several factors are combining to create this slower market. Mortgage rates, while down from their 2023 peaks, remain considerably higher than the rock-bottom levels many homeowners enjoyed in 2020 and 2021. When monthly payments are higher, buyers naturally become more selective about which properties they're willing to stretch for. The result is that homes need to be priced realistically from the outset to attract serious interest.

The broader economic picture also plays a role. Many potential buyers are taking longer to save deposits, particularly first-time buyers who face the double challenge of high house prices and higher mortgage costs. Meanwhile, existing homeowners who locked into very low fixed rates a few years ago are often reluctant to move and lose that advantageous rate, even if their current home no longer suits their needs.

Regional variations in the slowdown

It's worth noting that property markets vary considerably across the UK. Some areas are seeing homes sell more quickly than others, often depending on local employment prospects, transport links, and the balance between housing supply and buyer demand in that specific region. If you're planning to sell, it's important to understand your local market rather than relying solely on national headlines. An experienced estate agent in your area should be able to give you realistic timescales based on recent comparable sales.

The mortgage dimension

For anyone with a mortgage, this slower market has particular implications. If you're coming to the end of a fixed-rate deal and were planning to move home rather than remortgage your current property, you now need to factor in the possibility of a six-month (or longer) sale process. That could mean you end up on your lender's standard variable rate (SVR) in the interim, which is typically much more expensive than fixed-rate deals.

One strategy is to arrange a new fixed-rate mortgage on your current property as your existing deal ends, even if you're actively marketing the home for sale. Many mortgages allow you to port (transfer) the deal to a new property, and if the sale takes longer than expected, you're at least protected from higher SVR payments. There may be early repayment charges to consider if the mortgage doesn't allow porting, so it's important to discuss your specific situation with a mortgage broker who can model different scenarios.

What this means for you

If you're selling: price your home realistically from day one. In a slower market, properties that start too high often end up selling for less than if they'd been priced competitively from the outset, because they become 'stale' listings that buyers assume have something wrong with them. Make sure you're not relying on a quick sale to avoid mortgage complications, and speak to a broker about your options if you're approaching the end of a fixed term.

If you're buying: this data suggests you may have more negotiating room than in recent years, particularly if a property has been on the market for several months. Sellers who've been waiting since January are more likely to consider sensible offers. Just make sure your own mortgage is arranged in principle before you start making offers, as the current market requires buyers to move decisively once they find the right property. And if you're a first-time buyer or remortgaging, remember that even in a slower market, the best mortgage rates still go to those with larger deposits and strong credit histories.