Ten key statistics reveal the story of the UK housing market in 2025 – showing where and how far people moved, who was buying, and what it all cost.
The data from Reallymoving shows:
+ Halloween was the busiest day to move. More home moves took place on Halloween (31st October) than any other day in 2025, with approximately 24,700 moves compared with a daily average of 5,000. Friday was the most popular day of the week to move, chosen by 27% of all movers, giving households the weekend to settle in.
+ Movers stayed closer to home. The distance homeowners moved continued to shrink year on year. The median distance moved in 2025 was just 10 miles, down from 12 miles in 2024 and 15 miles in 2023. On average, movers paid £709 for removals services.
+ Birmingham topped the relocation league. Birmingham was the most popular destination in 2025, with the ‘B’ postcode attracting 3.04% of all home movers. It was followed by Manchester (2.52%), South East London (2.36%), Bristol (2.07%) and Belfast (2%).
+ First-Time Buyers dominated activity. Despite ongoing affordability challenges, First Time Buyers accounted for 58% of all buyers – just 1% lower than in 2024. They paid an average of £275,594, with 11% opting for a new build home and 7% using Shared Ownership to get on the property ladder.
+ Yorkshire gained the most movers – London lost the most. Yorkshire & the Humber saw the highest net migration of any UK region at +32%, meaning nearly a third more people arrived in the region than left. London recorded the lowest net migration at -62%, with the high cost of living likely to be a key driver.
+ Downsizers unlocked significant equity. Looking to reduce living costs and unlock equity to fund retirement or support family members, downsizers made up 27% of home mover activity during 2025. On average, they released almost £129,000 of equity. Downsizers were most active in the South West, accounting for almost a third (32%) of all home moves.
+ Upsizers seeking a 4-bed home faced the biggest financial leap. The cheapest step up the ladder was from a 1-bed to a 2-bed property, costing an additional £37,697 on average. Moving from a 2-bed to a 3-bed required an extra £53,826, while the jump from a 3-bed to a 4-bed came at a much steeper £178,132.
+ Nearly one fifth of home purchases were funded entirely with cash. Cash buyers accounted for 19% of purchases in the UK, unchanged from 2024. The North East had the highest proportion at 24%, while London had the lowest at 14%. Nationally, 10% of First Time Buyers purchased their home without a mortgage.
+ Moving costs rose to a record high. The total cost of moving home in 2025 was £17,831 for someone buying and selling at the same time. Based on the median purchase price in England, this included Stamp Duty (£9,750), estate agent fees (£4,615), conveyancing (£2,182), a Level 2 survey (£510), removals (£709) and an EPC (£65). First Time Buyers paid an average of £2,315 in upfront costs.
+ Investor activity was subdued. Facing higher taxes, borrowing and maintenance costs and increased regulatory complexity, investors made up just 4% of property purchases in 2025. They were most active in the Northeast, where lower property prices helped investors account for 5.8% of all purchases in the region this year.
