Exeter Property Market - Is it a buyers’ or sellers’ market?
Wed 10 Sep 2025
Exeter Property Market - Is it a buyers’ or sellers’ market?
Are you considering moving home in Exeter during the next 6 to 12 months?
You may be an Exeter landlord deciding whether to grow your portfolio or sell off a few properties. Or you're an Exeter first-time buyer wondering if now is the right time to move.
Understanding whether the current property market favours buyers or sellers is key to making the right call. If you follow my regular Exeter property updates, you'll know one of the most reliable ways to assess the market is by looking at the percentage of homes marked as "Sold STC" or "Under Offer" compared to the total number of properties on the market.
Let's show that in practice. In this example, if there are 400 properties on the market in a location, and say 300 properties are for sale, fully available to buy, and the remaining 100 are under offer or sold. 100 as a percentage of 400 gives us a sales percentage of 25%. It is this percentage that strongly indicates the local property market temperature and who holds the upper hand, i.e. buyers or sellers (or somewhere between).
This percentage figure acts as a barometer for market conditions and can be analysed using this table:
• Extreme Buyers' Market (0%-20%)
• Buyers' Market (21%-29%)
• Balanced Market (30%-40%)
• Sellers' Market (41%-49%)
• Hot Sellers' Market (50%-59%)
• Extreme Sellers' Market (60%+)
How Does Exeter Compare?
Examining historical data from The Advisory's website, which has tracked this metric for years, reveals some key trends for each month in 2025. (For this exercise, Exeter is EX1-EX6).
• January 2025. 44% of homes were sold or under offer, placing the market in the sellers’ category.
• February 2025. 41% kept the market in sellers’ territory, a small decline from January, giving buyers slightly more breathing room.
• March 2025. 40% shifted the market into the balanced category, a further drop from February, showing stability rather than growth.
• April 2025. 42% moved back into sellers’ territory, a modest increase from March, suggesting sellers regained a little more strength.
• May 2025. 38% placed the market in the balanced category, a fall from April, highlighting the need for accurate pricing.
• June 2025. 38% was unchanged from May, keeping conditions steady in the balanced category.
• July 2025. 38% again held firm, maintaining balanced market conditions.
• August 2025. 38% remained unchanged, signalling stability in the balanced category.
Overall trend: Exeter’s property market has ranged between 38% and 44% in 2025. The year began in sellers’ conditions but from March onward has mainly held steady in the balanced market range. Stability has been the key theme, with neither buyers nor sellers taking a strong lead.
These percentage figures are an average of the Exeter postcodes (as noted above).
For interest, if I break down the August 2025 figure by individual Exeter postcodes, it actually tells an even more interesting story…
• EX1 – 41%
• EX2 – 45%
• EX3 – 36%
• EX4 – 41%
• EX5 – 38%
• EX6 – 29%
Look at the difference between the postcodes!
So, what does a 38% "Sold STC to total stock" ratio mean for Exeter right now?
It places the local market at the upper end of a balanced market, leaning towards a sellers’ market. Neither side is in complete control; negotiations are tighter, and both buyers and sellers need to bring their best game.
For Exeter Sellers
*We are firmly in a market where patience, presentation, and accurate pricing matter more than ever. Buyers now have a choice, a lot of choice. Simply listing your property and hoping for the best will not cut it.
*The homes that sell are those that hit the market with the right price from day one, have high-quality photography, clear floor plans, strong virtual/video tours, and marketing that stretches both online and offline.
*Overpricing is the fastest way to stall a sale. Properties that linger usually face price reductions, lose momentum, and invite lower offers. In some cases, that even leads to failed sales before the exchange.
*Getting it right at launch is critical.
The good news is the recent interest rate cut provides a welcome tailwind as first-time buyers are seeing lower monthly payments, encouraging more of them into the market and strengthening chains. Also, home movers can access better fixed-rate deals, helping them upsize, remortgage, and release more homes onto the market to buy. Finally, buy-to-let investors in Exeter's stronger-yielding areas may see the sums stacking up again.
Buyer sentiment is shifting. Rate cuts show the Bank of England wants growth and stability, which converts hesitant "wait and see" buyers into active "let's book a viewing" buyers.
This is not a one-off. The cut follows earlier reductions since late 2024. This means mortgage rates are more palatable, with some two-year fixes, at the time of writing, being below 3.75% on a 60% loan-to-value (LTV) basis, and an impressive 3.86% on a 5-year fixed (60% LTV). For first-time buyers with a 5% deposit, a 3-year fixed 4.78% rate on a 95% LTV mortgage looks pretty fair.
For Exeter Buyers
The market is calmer than the frenzy of 2021 and 2022. There is time to think, compare, and in some cases negotiate. That does not mean you can wait indefinitely or fire in lowball offers. The best homes are still competitive, but opportunities exist if you are open-minded and look beyond the most sought-after postcodes. Have your mortgage agreement in principle ready before making an offer. It sets you apart and gives sellers confidence. Also, consider widening your search area, as value is often found just beyond the obvious hotspots.
Final Thoughts on the Exeter Property Market
With inflation rising slightly (meaning interest rates won’t be coming down too much in the near future) and the Government finances looking a little squeaky, while the UK’s (and Exeter's) property market is enjoying a steadier footing, realistic pricing is the ultimate and most important thing in marketing a property. Remember last month, only 50.9% of homes that left estate agents' books ended up being sold and the homeowner moving (the rest being withdrawn from the market unsold). Of course, you might not get what you would've got a few years ago in the crazy years of 2020 and 2021, but the price you'll have to pay on the next one won't be as much either.
If you are considering a move within the next six months or would like to explore your options, let's talk. And even if you are not moving, I would love to hear your thoughts on where you see the Exeter market heading.
Are you considering moving home in Exeter during the next 6 to 12 months?
You may be an Exeter landlord deciding whether to grow your portfolio or sell off a few properties. Or you're an Exeter first-time buyer wondering if now is the right time to move.
Understanding whether the current property market favours buyers or sellers is key to making the right call. If you follow my regular Exeter property updates, you'll know one of the most reliable ways to assess the market is by looking at the percentage of homes marked as "Sold STC" or "Under Offer" compared to the total number of properties on the market.
Let's show that in practice. In this example, if there are 400 properties on the market in a location, and say 300 properties are for sale, fully available to buy, and the remaining 100 are under offer or sold. 100 as a percentage of 400 gives us a sales percentage of 25%. It is this percentage that strongly indicates the local property market temperature and who holds the upper hand, i.e. buyers or sellers (or somewhere between).
This percentage figure acts as a barometer for market conditions and can be analysed using this table:
• Extreme Buyers' Market (0%-20%)
• Buyers' Market (21%-29%)
• Balanced Market (30%-40%)
• Sellers' Market (41%-49%)
• Hot Sellers' Market (50%-59%)
• Extreme Sellers' Market (60%+)
How Does Exeter Compare?
Examining historical data from The Advisory's website, which has tracked this metric for years, reveals some key trends for each month in 2025. (For this exercise, Exeter is EX1-EX6).
• January 2025. 44% of homes were sold or under offer, placing the market in the sellers’ category.
• February 2025. 41% kept the market in sellers’ territory, a small decline from January, giving buyers slightly more breathing room.
• March 2025. 40% shifted the market into the balanced category, a further drop from February, showing stability rather than growth.
• April 2025. 42% moved back into sellers’ territory, a modest increase from March, suggesting sellers regained a little more strength.
• May 2025. 38% placed the market in the balanced category, a fall from April, highlighting the need for accurate pricing.
• June 2025. 38% was unchanged from May, keeping conditions steady in the balanced category.
• July 2025. 38% again held firm, maintaining balanced market conditions.
• August 2025. 38% remained unchanged, signalling stability in the balanced category.
Overall trend: Exeter’s property market has ranged between 38% and 44% in 2025. The year began in sellers’ conditions but from March onward has mainly held steady in the balanced market range. Stability has been the key theme, with neither buyers nor sellers taking a strong lead.
These percentage figures are an average of the Exeter postcodes (as noted above).
For interest, if I break down the August 2025 figure by individual Exeter postcodes, it actually tells an even more interesting story…
• EX1 – 41%
• EX2 – 45%
• EX3 – 36%
• EX4 – 41%
• EX5 – 38%
• EX6 – 29%
Look at the difference between the postcodes!
So, what does a 38% "Sold STC to total stock" ratio mean for Exeter right now?
It places the local market at the upper end of a balanced market, leaning towards a sellers’ market. Neither side is in complete control; negotiations are tighter, and both buyers and sellers need to bring their best game.
For Exeter Sellers
*We are firmly in a market where patience, presentation, and accurate pricing matter more than ever. Buyers now have a choice, a lot of choice. Simply listing your property and hoping for the best will not cut it.
*The homes that sell are those that hit the market with the right price from day one, have high-quality photography, clear floor plans, strong virtual/video tours, and marketing that stretches both online and offline.
*Overpricing is the fastest way to stall a sale. Properties that linger usually face price reductions, lose momentum, and invite lower offers. In some cases, that even leads to failed sales before the exchange.
*Getting it right at launch is critical.
The good news is the recent interest rate cut provides a welcome tailwind as first-time buyers are seeing lower monthly payments, encouraging more of them into the market and strengthening chains. Also, home movers can access better fixed-rate deals, helping them upsize, remortgage, and release more homes onto the market to buy. Finally, buy-to-let investors in Exeter's stronger-yielding areas may see the sums stacking up again.
Buyer sentiment is shifting. Rate cuts show the Bank of England wants growth and stability, which converts hesitant "wait and see" buyers into active "let's book a viewing" buyers.
This is not a one-off. The cut follows earlier reductions since late 2024. This means mortgage rates are more palatable, with some two-year fixes, at the time of writing, being below 3.75% on a 60% loan-to-value (LTV) basis, and an impressive 3.86% on a 5-year fixed (60% LTV). For first-time buyers with a 5% deposit, a 3-year fixed 4.78% rate on a 95% LTV mortgage looks pretty fair.
For Exeter Buyers
The market is calmer than the frenzy of 2021 and 2022. There is time to think, compare, and in some cases negotiate. That does not mean you can wait indefinitely or fire in lowball offers. The best homes are still competitive, but opportunities exist if you are open-minded and look beyond the most sought-after postcodes. Have your mortgage agreement in principle ready before making an offer. It sets you apart and gives sellers confidence. Also, consider widening your search area, as value is often found just beyond the obvious hotspots.
Final Thoughts on the Exeter Property Market
With inflation rising slightly (meaning interest rates won’t be coming down too much in the near future) and the Government finances looking a little squeaky, while the UK’s (and Exeter's) property market is enjoying a steadier footing, realistic pricing is the ultimate and most important thing in marketing a property. Remember last month, only 50.9% of homes that left estate agents' books ended up being sold and the homeowner moving (the rest being withdrawn from the market unsold). Of course, you might not get what you would've got a few years ago in the crazy years of 2020 and 2021, but the price you'll have to pay on the next one won't be as much either.
If you are considering a move within the next six months or would like to explore your options, let's talk. And even if you are not moving, I would love to hear your thoughts on where you see the Exeter market heading.