Homes in Scotland selling much faster than in other parts of Britain

Homes are selling significantly faster in some parts of Scotland than in other areas of Britain, with Falkirk topping Zoopla’s list of the UK’s fastest-selling local markets.

The average time to sell a home across Britain remained unchanged at 42 days in the year to July 2026. But Zoopla said the national figure masks a growing divide between stronger local housing markets and areas where properties are taking longer to find buyers.

Around half of the 363 local authorities analysed – 180 in total – recorded an increase in the average time taken to sell a property compared with a year earlier.

Scotland stands out as one of the strongest-performing parts of the market, with seven of the ten fastest-selling local authority areas in Britain located north of the border.

Falkirk was the fastest of all, with homes taking an average of just 11 days to sell in July – one day faster than a year earlier.

Renfrewshire and North Lanarkshire followed at 13 days, while South Lanarkshire, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire and West Dunbartonshire all recorded an average selling time of 14 days.

Stirling and Glasgow City were also among the fastest markets, with homes taking an average of 15 days to sell, followed by Clackmannanshire at 16 days.

At the other end of the Scottish market, homes in Aberdeenshire took an average of 45 days to sell, making it the slowest-selling local authority in Scotland in Zoopla’s analysis.

Zoopla said the strength of many Scottish markets reflects differences in how the housing market operates compared with the rest of Britain, as well as the relative affordability of homes.

Properties in Scotland are typically marketed as “offers over” a set price, with buyers able to access a valuation and Home Report before making an offer.

Zoopla also said higher average mortgage rates have encouraged more buyers to adopt a “wait and see” approach, contributing to longer selling times in many regional and local markets.

Richard Donnell, executive director at Zoopla, said the stability in the national average was “masking a real divide opening up between local markets”.

He added that sellers in slower markets should speak to a local estate agent, understand conditions at a street-by-street level and ensure their property is correctly priced from the outset.