First-time buyer demand across Great Britain saw a slight dip in the third quarter of 2026, with 31.7% of suitable properties selling subject to contract, down from 32.9% in the previous quarter. This represents a 1.3 percentage point decrease, and demand was also 0.6 percentage points lower than in Q3 2025, according to new research from estate agency Yopa.
Despite the national softening, regional markets present a varied picture. Cities like Liverpool, Sheffield, Leicester, and Manchester continue to show strong buyer activity. Liverpool led the way with 51% of suitable properties finding buyers in Q3, followed by Sheffield at 44.7% and Leicester at 44.6%. Leicester also experienced the largest quarterly increase in demand, rising by 7.1 percentage points.
A significant challenge remains the limited availability of suitable homes, which account for only 1.8% of all properties listed for sale across Great Britain. While this is a slight increase from 1.7% in Q2, it remains unchanged year-on-year. Plymouth recorded the highest proportion of suitable stock at 2.1% of homes for sale.
Verona Frankish, Yopa chief executive, noted that while the government's proposed 'Your First Home' equity loan scheme could help reduce deposit barriers, there is a risk that stimulating demand specifically in the new-build market could inflate prices, potentially exposing some first-time buyers to negative equity.