A new report from property portal Zoopla has analyzed current trends in the UK housing market, finding that the average time it takes to sell a residential property has held steady at 42 days as of July. However, industry analysts suggest that this national figure does not tell the full story of the current economic climate.

While the headline number remains unchanged year-over-year, the data reveals a widening gap between different regions. Some local markets are experiencing significantly faster sales, while others are seeing a cooling effect, leading to a more polarized landscape for homeowners. The report suggests that sellers in high-demand areas may find their properties moving quickly, whereas those in weaker areas face longer wait times, despite the stable national average. This trend indicates that local economic factors and regional demand are playing a larger role in property transactions than the overall national average might suggest. The findings serve as a reminder to prospective sellers that their specific location is a primary driver of how quickly they can expect to complete a sale in the current market environment.