The latest Rightmove House Price Index has just been released, and while the headlines show a resilient UK housing market, the real story is what’s happening underneath the surface.
Nationally, the average asking price of a property coming to market rose by 1.2% in May to £378,304. That’s slightly above the normal seasonal increase for this time of year and shows that confidence in the market remains surprisingly strong despite wider economic uncertainty.
However, it’s not a market where sellers can simply list a property and expect it to sell instantly.
One of the biggest takeaways from this month’s report is that buyer choice is now at its highest level for this time of year since 2015. That means buyers are comparing more homes, taking longer to make decisions and becoming much more price sensitive.
In fact, Rightmove reports that 32% of existing listings have already had a price reduction. Even more importantly, homes that need a price reduction are taking an average of 127 days to sell, compared to just 36 days for homes priced correctly from day one.
That’s a huge difference.
This is why pricing strategy has become one of the most important parts of selling a home in 2026.
Across South Yorkshire, and particularly in areas like Rotherham, Rawmarsh, Swinton, Mexborough and the wider S62, S63 and S64 postcodes, affordability is still helping to keep buyers active. Yorkshire & The Humber saw annual growth of +1.0% according to the regional data in the report.
The market is still moving, but buyers are being more selective.
Interestingly, first-time buyer activity has remained relatively resilient despite higher mortgage rates. Rightmove states that sales agreed in the first-time buyer sector are only 4% below last year, and average prices for first-time buyer homes are actually down 0.7% year-on-year, helping improve affordability.
There’s also been a small boost for buyers recently, with average two-year fixed mortgage rates dropping from 5.42% to 5.18%. While rates are still higher than many would like, this reduction can make a meaningful difference to monthly payments and buyer confidence.
So what does all this mean if you’re thinking about selling?
It means preparation matters more than ever.
Professional marketing, strong photography, video content, realistic pricing and a well-planned launch strategy are becoming increasingly important in a market where buyers have more options available to them.
The homes that stand out are still generating strong interest and good competition. But the homes that are overpriced or poorly presented are often sitting on the market far longer than expected.
If you’re considering a move and want honest, data-driven advice about your home’s value and the best strategy for today’s market, feel free to get in touch.
Because in this market, the right strategy matters just as much as the property itself.