Downsizers are struggling to find buyers for detached homes
The latest research from over-50s property specialists, Regency Living, reveals that mid-sized homes are by far the most in-demand on today’s property market, while the appetite for detached homes has reduced in the face of heightened mortgage costs.
Regency Living analysed buyer demand data for each property type in the current market and found that buyer appetites are strongest for mid-sized homes, with half of those currently listed on the market having already sold subject to contract (SSTC).
Demand for terraced homes sits at 50.3%, while demand for semi-detached properties has reached 50.2%.
In contrast, detached homes aren’t proving as popular. Across England, only 34.4% of them have found buyers.
So while property market activity is on the up, the top end of the market is struggling to catch up, most likely due to high house prices and mortgage costs forcing family buyers to focus their searches on more affordable family suitable homes, rather than the more expensive detached properties.
Deeper analysis by Regency Living at county level further highlights this trend within the market. Across all counties in England, buyer demand is at its strongest for either semi-detached or terraced homes.
Demand for semi-detached homes is at its strongest in Bedfordshire (61.5%), Tyne & Wear (60.9%), and the City of Bristol (59.6%), while demand for terraced homes is highest in South Yorkshire (60.6%), Greater Manchester (59.7%), and Bedfordshire (58.9%).
However, some areas of the market are still home to a robust level of demand for larger detached properties. Demand for detached properties is strongest in the City of Bristol, Bedfordshire, and Berkshire where 49.1%, 43.6%, and 42.5% of available properties are already SSTC.
Sales & marketing director at Regency Living, Tim Simmons commented: “There is always going to be a high level of demand for larger family homes as those looking to progress up the property ladder look for suitable properties to help them lay firmer foundations on which to build a family
In fact, one issue that has plagued the market historically is a shortage of such homes, particularly given that many older homeowners aren’t downsizing until far later in life.
However, stubbornly high house prices, expensive mortgages, and increased levels of stamp duty appear to be forcing family buyers to opt for mid-sized homes in the current market, such as terraced and semi-detached properties, instead of the more expensive detached properties.
As a direct result of this, we’ve seen a rise in the number of people wanting to downsize from larger detached homes, but have been unable to do so due to low demand for such properties at present.
As a result, more and more silver downsizers are opting to take advantage of our Home Part Exchange service which gives you up to 100% of your home’s market value while providing you with a swift and certain sale.
This means you can move into your beautiful new Park Bungalow without having to pay stamp duty or agency fees, nor wrestle with the stress and extended timelines that people are facing when selling on the open market.”
Data tables and sources
- *Demand is measured by calculating the number of homes currently listed for sale on England’s market that have already been sold subject to contract as a percentage of total listed stock. For example, if there are 100 homes listed for sale and 50 are SSTC, demand is measured at 50%.
- *Demand data source from Rightmove (correct as of 01/05/2025)
- Full data tables and sources can be viewed online, here.