Buyer demand decreased across almost every English county in the third quarter of 2026, according to new research from eXp UK. The analysis indicates a 1.6 percentage point decline in demand between July and September.
Across England, 39.8% of homes listed for sale had secured a buyer in Q3, down from 41.4% in the previous quarter. This latest fall follows a 1.1 percentage point decline between the first and second quarters of the year.
The Isle of Wight recorded the highest growth in demand, rising by 2.4 percentage points to 28.4%. The City of London saw a 2.3 percentage point increase, while Rutland, Oxfordshire, and Dorset also posted gains.
Warwickshire experienced the sharpest quarterly decline, down 3.6 percentage points, followed by Bristol at 3.5 points. Other counties with notable declines included Kent, Leicestershire, Berkshire, and the West Midlands.
Adam Day, head of eXp UK and Europe, stated that buyers are increasingly cautious. He suggested that while some buyers may be waiting for the Autumn Budget, widespread declines indicate that affordability challenges and a need for greater confidence are also influencing activity.