Estate agents across most major UK cities have seen an increase in the level of buyer activity so far this year when compared to the same period in 2024 – with Newport Leicester and Liverpool seeing the largest surge in market activity.
New research by eXp UK, the platform for personal estate agents and estate agency businesses, has revealed that across the UK as a whole, buyer demand is up, with the average monthly level of buyer demand seen over the first four months of this year sitting 2% higher when compared to the same period in 2024.
At 6%, Newport has seen the largest increase in buyer market activity so far this year, whilst Leicester, Liverpool and Newcastle have also seen a notable increase, with all three cities seeing a 4% increase year on year.
In fact, 14 of the 25 major UK cities analysed by eXp UK have seen positive movement in this respect, with Swansea, Sunderland, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Leeds, Cardiff, Birmingham, Sheffield, Bradford and Glasgow also seeing buyer demand levels increase in 2025.
London is the only city to have seen buyer activity remain static versus the first four months of last year, whilst Belfast has seen the largest decline, with the average monthly level of buyer demand seen so far this year down -10% versus 2024.
Head of eXp UK & Europe, Adam Day, commented: “It’s been a busy start to the year, with both reductions to interest rates and the stamp duty deadline driving buyer market activity.
“As a result, agents across the majority of major UK cities will have been busier during the first few months of this year when compared to last and this heightened level of market activity is set to continue even with the increased cost of stamp duty incurred by some buyers.
“It’s shaping up to be a very good year indeed and we’ve already seen strong and consistent growth with respect to mortgage approvals, buyer enquiries and house price growth as the market continues to shift through the gears.”
