Figures from national estate agency Yopa reveal new-build sales volumes are down 62% so far in 2025, with significant drops recorded across all regions. The company is urging buyers to explore the many initiatives available when buying a brand new home, including developer incentives, purchase schemes and new products from mortgage lenders – all designed to help boost affordability.
Yopa analysed government data on new-build sales volumes across Britain over the last three years, looking at the average monthly level of sales across each region. Between 2023 and 2024 the average number of monthly new-build sales volumes fell by a marginal 3.9%. However, so far this year, the same average level of monthly new-build transactions has plummeted by 62%.
The slowdown is evident across all regions, with the most significant drops found in Yorkshire and the Humber (-77.5%), North East (-77.3%), South West (-76.9%), North West (-70.5%), Wales (-70.5%), East Midlands (-69.0%), West Midlands (-67.5%), East of England (-65.9%), South East (-63.4%), and London (-53.9%).
Additional analysis shows the average new-build house price across Britain has increased by 8.1% over the last year, with new-build homes commanding a premium of 30.5% compared to existing properties – up from around 25% over the last two years.
‘New-build market activity has been particularly subdued so far this year and this is partly down to a misconception amongst homebuyers, who believe that they simply can’t afford a new home due to the higher market premiums they often command’, said Yopa CEO Verona Frankish.
“However, this simply isn’t the case and we’ve seen lenders introduce a range of new products and initiatives to help the nation’s homebuyers capitalise on the existing initiatives found within the new-build sector.”
Benefits and incentives range from modern design and energy efficiency to developer contributions or fitted appliances. Purchase initiatives are also available to new-build buyers, including shared ownership, the First Homes Scheme, which offers discounts of 30%-50% for first-time buyers or key workers, and Deposit Unlock schemes which allow buyers to purchase with deposits from 5% deposit.
Energy-efficient properties can also benefit from green mortgage products, potentially reducing monthly repayments and offering further long-term cost savings, Yopa says. Improvements to products in the mortgage market also help boost new-build affordability.
Frankish explained:
“The combination of low-deposit options, enhanced income multiples and specialist purchasing schemes is creating opportunities for buyers who may have thought a new-build was out of reach. However, with the right guidance, now could be one of the best times in recent years to secure a new-build home.”
One Response
It’s not a huge surprise. Developers put a lot of pressure on buyers to complete, most of which is completely out of there control (such as the below chain). Newbuild houses are built cheaply, with insufficient infrastructure and too many snags, which should have been rectified before completion. If developers raise their standards, people will buy!