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New Listings Outpace Sales Agreed in July as Mortgage Costs Rise

New property listings in Great Britain rose by 2.6% in July 2026, outstripping a 1.1% increase in sales agreed, according to Sprift's latest report. This occurred despite the Bank of England holding interest rates steady, as two-year fixed mortgage rates climbed to 5.62%.

  • New property listings increased by 2.6% to 209,941 in July 2026.
  • Sales agreed rose by 1.1% to 114,561 in July 2026.
  • Two-year fixed mortgage rates reached 5.62% in July, up from 4.83% in February.

New property listings in Great Britain grew by 2.6% in July 2026, reaching 209,941, while sales agreed increased by a more modest 1.1% to 114,561. This marks the first time since spring that new listings have outpaced sales agreed, easing the national conversion rate by 0.8 percentage points to 54.6%.

The rise in listings occurred as mortgage costs continued to climb, with two-year fixed rates reaching 5.62% in July, an increase from 4.83% in February. Consumer confidence was recorded at -17 during the same period.

A significant regional divide has emerged, with Scotland leading Great Britain in conversion at 77.0%, followed by Yorkshire and the Humber at 64.5% and Wales at 62.8%. London, however, lagged with a conversion rate of just 39.4%, representing the widest gap between any two regions this year.

Price reductions affected 31.3% of stock nationally in July, a slight decrease from 31.8% in June. The South East recorded the highest reduction rate at 43.6% of listings, while Scotland had the lowest at 21.5%. Across Great Britain, 748,652 properties were for sale, spending an average of 155 days on the market.

Why this matters: The widening gap between new listings and sales agreed suggests a shift in market dynamics, potentially offering buyers more choice.

What this means for you: If you are a buyer, there may be more properties available and a greater chance of price reductions in some regions. If you are a seller, you might find that the first asking price is increasingly important in securing a sale.

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