First-time buyers from Liverpool are increasingly purchasing homes in Wirral, citing better affordability and lifestyle, according to local estate agents. This trend persists despite Office for National Statistics data showing the average house price in Wirral (£217,000) is higher than in Liverpool (£184,000) as of April 2026.
Price Growth and Affordability
The price gap between the two areas is widening. Wirral experienced the third highest house price increase in England between January 2025 and 2026 at 8.8%, while Liverpool saw a 6.6% rise. The average Wirral home gained £18,000 in value over the year, compared to £11,000 in Liverpool. However, estate agents note that expensive areas like West Kirby skew the Wirral average, with many more affordable pockets attracting first-time buyers.
Estate Agent Insights
Jon Golding, a property valuer at Mags Property, which operates in both Liverpool and Wirral, said: “I’ve spoken to a lot of investors and a lot of them are investing in houses in Liverpool. A lot of investors are buying houses to rent or turn into a HMO; buying a house in Liverpool is an easier sell for investors.” He added that Wirral attracts more second-time buyers and families, with its location being a key selling point: “Some areas of the Wirral are closer to the city centre than areas in Liverpool, places like Hoylake and New Brighton have better transport links than a lot of Liverpool itself.”
Adam Slinger, director at Peterson & McCoy estate agents in New Brighton, said buyers from Liverpool enquire about Wirral homes “all the time.” He explained: “The biggest thing is the competition for homes in Liverpool, with more competition you get higher prices. We had 25 viewings in one day in Liverpool, people offering ten percent over the asking price, but stuff takes longer to sell in the Wirral, typically 15 weeks.”
Demographics and Lifestyle
Both agents agree that Wirral’s appeal lies in its green spaces, beaches, and regeneration projects. Slinger described New Brighton as “quite an artsy seaside town, it’s bidding to be Town of Culture. We get lots of families coming over, people are heading over to where it’s more affordable.” Golding noted that regeneration and new build estates attract young families, adding: “You get a lot more for your money in the Wirral. There’s a six-bedroom house up for sale in Oxton, over £700,000. If you looked at a house like that in South Liverpool it’d cost well over a million.”
Liverpool Hotspots
Despite the shift, some Liverpool areas remain competitive. The L13 postcode (Clubmoor, Old Swan, Stoneycroft, Tuebrook) saw a 16.6% price increase between April 2025 and 2026, the largest in Merseyside, making it a property hotspot.
