Homeowners in one affordable Cheshire town are experiencing a property boom, with houses being snapped up in little over a month, significantly faster than the national average.
The UK's Hottest Property Markets
New data from Rightmove has revealed the UK's fastest-moving property markets, where homes are being sold in record time. While the average property across the country takes 64 days to sell, homes in some areas are finding buyers in a fraction of that time.
The speed of a sale is typically driven by a combination of factors, including high buyer demand, competitive pricing, and attractive local amenities. The latest analysis highlights the specific locations where these conditions are creating a seller's market.
Runcorn: A Riverside Property Hotspot
Leading the charge in the North West is the industrial town of Runcorn in Cheshire. Properties here are flying off the shelf, with an average selling time of just 34 days.
Situated on the banks of the River Mersey, Runcorn boasts a rich industrial heritage, plentiful green spaces, and outstanding transport connections. Its status as a major transport hub makes it ideal for commuters, with Manchester roughly 45 minutes away by car or train. Liverpool and Chester are both less than 20 minutes away by rail.
The key draw for many buyers is affordability. With the UK's average house price standing at £364,833, Runcorn offers a much more accessible market. According to Rightmove, the average property price in the town over the last year was £194,184.
A breakdown of the local market shows:
- Terraced houses (the majority of sales): £133,800
- Semi-detached houses: £194,929
- Detached properties: £308,648
National Picture: Scotland Dominates, Coastal Areas Lag
Runcorn is not alone in its fast-paced market. Other areas seeing rapid sales include Carlisle in Cumbria (37 days) and Bootle in Merseyside (40 days).
However, the crown for the fastest-selling area in Great Britain goes to Cumbernauld, northwest of Glasgow, where homes take a remarkable just 15 days to sell on average. Scotland's unique buying system helps it dominate the top ten, making it the quickest national market.
In England, the fastest market outside of Scotland is Heaton in Newcastle, where properties sell in 26 days.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, the slowest markets are found in coastal regions. St Austell in Cornwall is currently the slowest, with homes taking 101 days to sell, followed by Paignton (97 days) and Torquay (95 days).
The ten quickest markets in Britain outside of Scotland are:
- Heaton, Newcastle Upon Tyne (26 days, £243,085)
- Wallsend, Tyne and Wear (30 days, £157,991)
- Runcorn, Cheshire (34 days, £194,184)
- Carlisle, Cumbria (37 days, £179,275)
- Gosforth, Newcastle Upon Tyne (39 days, £310,489)
- Bootle, Merseyside (40 days, £137,768)
- Rainham, Gillingham, Kent (40 days, £355,622)
- Newcastle Upon Tyne (40 days, £220,802)
- Aldershot, Hampshire (41 days, £342,724)
- Earley, Reading, Berkshire (41 days, £464,731)
