This summer has seen a dramatic slowdown in property searches – over four times greater than the dip seen in 2024, data from Twenty7tec has revealed.
According to the findings, every price band has seen a double-digit fall.
However, while activity has cooled across the board, demand for the average family home remains strong.
Between 21st June and 21st July 2025, compared to 20th May and 20th June 2025, total property searches fell 17.89%, compared to a 4.35% drop during the same period in 2024.
That’s the steepest monthly decline seen in recent years, with 273,296 fewer searches recorded.
The steepest falls were seen in the £250,000 to £300,000 range, where searches dropped by 21.12%, and at the very top of the market, where searches for homes over £500,000 fell by 18.25%.
No price band was immune – every bracket experienced a double-digit decline, with first-time buyer territory (under £150,000) down 17.37%.
Nathan Reilly, commercial director at Twenty7tec, said: “Several factors could be contributing to the downturn in searches.
“We saw the rush that the Stamp Duty changes brought in, with almost 160,000 fewer first time buyer searches in the three months post change to before.
“This can include continued uncertainty around interest rates, high living costs, and buyers adopting a ‘wait and see’ approach.”
He added: “For some, holidays may have simply taken priority over house hunting.
“But for others, affordability challenges are likely forcing a pause in activity while they reassess their budgets.”
Despite the month-on-month slowdown, year-on-year figures tell a more nuanced story.
Searches for homes priced between £250,000 and £300,000 were up 31.6% compared to July 2024, making it the only band to see significant annual growth.
All bands below that threshold recorded year-on-year declines, including a 22.85% drop for homes under £150,000.
Reilly added: “This tells us where the market energy is right now. People are still looking, but they’re increasingly focused on that middle segment.
“First-time buyers are under pressure from affordability constraints, while the top end of the market is more hesitant. It’s the typical family home that’s holding everything together.”
He concluded: “The volume of activity in the £250k–£300k range tells us this isn’t a market that’s flatlining.
“Instead, we’re seeing a refocus of demand – one shaped by changing affordability, mortgage rates, and life stage needs. If that momentum continues, it could provide some much-needed stability through the second half of the year.”
