First-time buyers are set to fuel a sharp rise in auction activity with agents predicting a significant shift in how homes are bought and sold.
New data from iamproperty shows agents expect the number of sellers choosing auction to increase by 49% over the next 12 months.
The growth is being driven in part by a projected 60% rise in first-time buyer activity in 2026, alongside ongoing frustration with delays in the traditional private treaty market.
Auction is increasingly being seen as a faster and more certain route to completion, with typical timelines of around 56 days compared to more than 200 days for private treaty transactions.
REGIONAL TRENDS
The trend is particularly evident in northern regions, where auction sales volumes have risen strongly, supported by affordability and demand from first-time buyers.
Over the past six months, iamproperty recorded more than 102,000 property viewings, nearly 34,000 bids and over 5,700 completed sales, underlining continued momentum in the sector.
The North led activity levels, with 2,287 properties sold, marking a 26% increase on the previous year.
The data suggests growing confidence among first-time buyers in using auction platforms, supported by improved transparency, digital bidding and clearer timelines.
NO-BRAINEER
Jamie Cooke (main picture), Co-Founder at iamproperty, says: “More and more sellers are choosing auction because it appeals to modern consumer demands when it comes to both buying and selling, offering transparency through the digitised process, live bidding and fixed timescales.
“For first-time buyers wanting to complete faster, with confidence, it’s a no-brainer.”
He adds that the shift reflects a broader change in buyer and seller behaviour, with auction increasingly seen as a mainstream option rather than a niche route to market.
