Homebuyer demand across England edged lower in Q2 2026, although more affordable markets in the North and Midlands continued to outperform their southern counterparts, according to the latest analysis from eXp UK.

The property firm found that 41.2% of homes listed for sale had secured a buyer during the quarter, down 1.1% on Q1 2026 and 1.2% lower than a year earlier.

The strongest quarterly increase in buyer demand was recorded in the East Riding of Yorkshire, where demand rose 3.1%, followed by Lancashire (+0.7%), the City of London (+0.7%), Greater Manchester (+0.5%) and Northumberland (+0.5%). In contrast, the largest quarterly declines were seen in Dorset (-4.0%), Bristol (-2.6%), Surrey (-2.6%), Rutland (-2.5%) and Northamptonshire (-2.4%).

Adam Day, Head of eXp UK and Europe, said: “The latest figures suggest that buyer demand remains relatively stable despite a modest quarterly decline at the national level. What continues to stand out is the resilience being shown by many markets across the North and Midlands, where affordability remains comparatively stronger and buyer activity has generally held up better.

“At the same time, many southern counties continue to face greater affordability pressures, which can have a more pronounced impact on purchasing decisions and transaction volumes. As a result, we're seeing a market where regional performance varies considerably depending on local market conditions.”

Despite the quarterly dip, buyer demand remained strongest in the City of Bristol (53.8%), Tyne and Wear (53.7%), South Yorkshire (51.4%), Greater Manchester (49.6%) and Merseyside (49.5%), underlining the continued strength of more affordable regional markets.