The Intermediary – October 2025 - Flipbook - Page 94
L O C A L FO C U S
Cambridge
Pockets of movement
JAHIDU JAMAN
mortgage and protection adviser at The Mortgage Providers
t a UK level, mortgage approvals bounced around during 2025.
Aer a recovery in spring, the number of approvals has
flattened or dipped slightly in recent months, as buyers and
brokers watch fiscal announcements and pricing. Locally in
Cambridge, that has translated into steady enquiry and applications
from employed professionals and first-time buyers (FTBs), but a slower
pace of agreed sales compared with the strongest months.
House prices have only moved modestly year-on-year, and transaction
volumes remain below the boom years. ere’s still a pronounced gap
between affordability and wages for many buyers, but demand from
certain buyer groups – especially buyers linked to the university and
tech employers – keeps the market competitive.
First-time buyers are still important. Nationally, the share of lending
to FTBs has been unusually strong, and in Cambridge smaller-value,
well-located flats and terraces remain in demand.
In addition, rising rents in the city make ‘buy versus rent’ calculations
more attractive for some would-be buyers, supporting first-time
buyer demand.
Our core demographic consists of professionals – university, lifesciences, and tech employees – first-time buyers and local families
moving into new developments.
ere has been a shi in the last year, with an increase in first-time
buyer share and more enquiries from people priced out of London and
other South East suburbs, who see Cambridge as a viable alternative.
ere’s also been a cautious return of some buy-to-let investors where
cashflows make sense, but they remain selective.
New-build and early-phase estates are driving activity at the margins.
e local council’s development log and Cambridge planning activity
show a continued pipeline of medium-to-large sites that will keep
new-build supply coming for the next few years.
ere are large new developments in places such as Marleigh and
Waterbeach New Town. ey are bringing fresh stock and attracting
family buyers, creating local pockets of movement even when markets
elsewhere slow.
Cambridge South boasts a number of new transport projects – station
projects and broader transport planning, including active travel and
cycling provision, are ongoing and will change connectivity for some
neighbourhoods, supporting commuter demand to new employment
hubs. ese longer-term infrastructure items are part of why developers
and families are targeting certain corridors.
A
who describes the local market as
steady but selective.
He says: “At a UK level, mortgage
approvals bounced around during
2025. Aer a recovery in spring, the
number of approvals has flaened
or dipped slightly in recent months
as buyers and brokers watch fiscal
announcements and pricing. Locally
in Cambridge, that has translated
into steady enquiry and applications
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The Intermediary | October 2025
from employed professionals and
first-time buyers, but a slower pace
of agreed sales compared with the
strongest months.”
Jaman also points to a “pronounced
gap between affordability and wages,”
particularly for those not backed by
university or tech-sector incomes.
While demand from these groups
keeps competition high, he warns
that “buyers are price-sensitive and
holding off on non-urgent moves,”
amid speculation over tax changes in
the upcoming Budget.
Core demographics
Cambridge’s buyer profile reflects
the city’s blend of academia and
international appeal. With a
population of around 471,000 and an
average age just under 40 in 2022, the
area aracts a broad mix of residents,
ranging from career-driven young
professionals to established families
and global investors.
According to Jaman, his main
demographic “consists of professionals
– university, life-sciences and tech
employees – first-time buyers and
local families moving into new
developments.”
Over the past year, he notes, there
has been “an increase in first-time
buyer [FTB] share, and more enquiries
New infrastructure
and residential projects
continue to reshape
the city’s housing
landscape. The average
price of a newly built
property in the area
currently stands
at £471,000”
from people priced out of London
and other South East suburbs who see
Cambridge as a viable alternative.”
Rising rents, he adds, have also
made ‘buy versus rent’ calculations
more aractive for some would-be
buyers, fuelling continued FTB
demand for smaller-value, welllocated flats and terraced homes.
Mules says his firm works
with “a huge variety of customer
circumstances,” from traditional
residential borrowers to “high-networth clients which can be both UK
and non-UK based.” This diversity,
he explains, reflects the city’s global
draw. He continues: “Cambridge’s
science and tech opportunities make
this really relevant, so we oen deal
with those whose affairs are more
complex, possibly with multiple
