The Intermediary – September 2025 - Flipbook - Page 96
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OXFORD
Each month, The Intermediary takes a close-up
look at the housing market in a specific region and
speaks to the experts supporting the area to find out
what makes their territory unique
O
xford’s housing
market has always
been distinctive,
shaped as much by
its centuries-old
university as by the
city’s growing status as a global hub
for research, science, and culture.
The pull of the university continues
to underpin buy-to-let (BTL) demand,
as landlords remain keen to capitalise
on a steady stream of renters ranging
from undergraduates to visiting
professionals.
Yet this creates its own challenges.
With competition for property
fierce, stock is oen stretched, and
affordability pressures ripple through
both the rental and residential
markets. For brokers, that makes
Oxford a city of contrasts – historic
housing stock sits alongside hightech growth, and demand rarely
seems to dip.
Current values
Property values in Oxford remain
among the highest in the country,
reflecting the city’s chronic supply
pressures. The average home in the
postcode area now stands at £455,000,
with a median value of £395,000.
Price growth over the past year has
been marginal, with only a £1,900
upli. Established homes currently
average £453,000, while new-builds
carry a sharper premium at £493,000,
underlining strong appetite for
modern housing stock.
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The Intermediary | September 2025
Sales activity has slowed, with
7,500 transactions recorded, marking
a 10.8% drop year-on-year, equating
to 973 fewer sales. The bulk of
movement has been concentrated in
the mid-market, with 27% of homes
sold in the £300,000 to £400,000 range
and a further 20% between £400,000
to £500,000.
Oxford’s market spans a wide
affordability spectrum: from OX16
5, where average prices are £223,000,
to OX7 4, one of the county’s most
exclusive postcodes, with an average
of £1.7m. Detached homes lead the
market at £643,000, while semidetached houses stand at £428,000,
terraced at £382,000, and flats at a
slightly more accessible £264,000.
Price sensitivity
With the housing market in as much
demand as ever, brokers stress that
it must be balanced with realistic
pricing. Marcus Gunn, director at
Carbon Oxford, says: “Oxford is a
robust market and always seems
in demand. We are in a very price
sensitive market though, so properties
that are not priced sensibly are in
danger of siing on the market
with lile or no interest for an
extended period.”
He underlines a growing reality
in Oxford: while demand rarely
disappears, overpriced homes can
linger, forcing difficult choices
between reducing the asking price
or waiting for the right buyer to
come along. Gunn also points out
that “the seasonal summer months
can oen be sluggish for residential
purchase mortgages with clients
away,” although this year he has “had
a busier than usual level of purchase
enquiries.” This suggests that while
Oxford is not immune to seasonal
paerns, underlying demand is strong
enough to offset them.
Gunn adds that there is “a constant
flow of previous clients looking to
remortgage and capitalise on more
aractive lender pricing.”
Mandy Best, director at Best
Financial Planning, offers a similar
picture, though she highlights
additional challenges. She explains:
“The Oxford housing market has
remained consistent, with above
average prices compared to the rest of
country; however, we have seen delays
in purchase case completions.”
