New data has revealed where homebuyers have the best chance at securing a chain-free, more streamlined property purchase in what has become an “increasingly uncertain market”.
House Buyer Bureau looked at chain-free stock availability based on current property market listings, revealing which areas are home to the highest number of chain-free properties for sale as a percentage of all market stock. They also looked at how in demand these homes are amongst homebuyers based on the number of chain-free homes that have already been marked as sold subject to contract or under offer.
According to the research which covered 21 major cities, Home Buyer Bureau found chain-free stock availability has increased by 3.4% since June 2022, rising from 36.6% of all available homes to 40%.
The largest stock increase has been reported in Glasgow (9%), while Portsmouth (8.1%), Bristol (6.1%), and Nottingham (5.3%) have all seen significant boosts to chain-free stock.
Portsmouth also tops the table in terms of total chain-free stock availability, where 55.7% of all available properties currently listed for sale are chain-free. Southampton (48.2%), Sheffield (47.7%), Cardiff (47.3%), and Bristol all have healthy levels of chain-free stock.
However, Home Buyer Bureau warn those looking for a smoother path to homeownership with a chain-free purchase will have to move swiftly, as 42.8% of all chain-free homes listed in the current market have already been sold subject to contract or under offer.
Managing Director of House Buyer Bureau, Chris Hodgkinson, said:
“Chain-free homes are always going to be popular among buyers in the same way that cash buyers are always going to be popular among sellers. The absence of a chain makes everything easier and eliminates much of the risk often associated with homebuying.
The good news is that there is currently a robust level of current market stock that offers a chain-free purchase and this chain-free stock availability has climbed pretty much across the board since last summer’s pandemic market peak.”
