The market for newly built homes is showing a rare window of opportunity for buyers. Economic and political uncertainty - including the upcoming Budget - is slowing down sales, leaving more completed homes on the market than usual. For anyone looking to move soon, this could be the perfect time to act.
According to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, 89,100 new homes were delivered in England between April and mid-September 2025, adding significant new supply to the market.*
Despite developers continuing to complete their projects, buyer interest has dipped this year. Watson Briggs, our Head of New Homes, explains that this mismatch between supply and demand has created advantages for buyers:
“As developers aim to hit their year-end sales targets, buyers are in a strong position to negotiate incentives or price reductions of up to 12%. Plus, with homes fully completed and ready to move into, there’s no waiting for off-plan delivery.”
This means buyers can see properties in person, explore finished layouts, and move in sooner - often in time to celebrate the holidays in a brand-new home.
Even with fewer enquiries overall, committed buyers are taking advantage of the market. In fact, our New Homes team saw a 71% increase in sales in October compared to the same month last year.
“There are still plenty of buyers looking to move quickly,” adds Watson. “On average, it takes 28 days to exchange contracts on a new build, compared with up to 121 days for older properties.”
For anyone ready to buy, this is a chance to move fast and secure a property before competition rises.
The current buyers’ market is expected to be short-lived. Lending conditions are slowly improving, and greater political clarity after the Budget may spark renewed activity in early 2026.
“We expect pent-up demand to return next year, making the market more competitive,” says Watson.
For buyers, this means now is the time to explore new homes while the market is in their favour.
*source: UK Government Statistics