Eden may

31/05/2026

🏡 55.7% Of Somerset’s Under 35s Own Their Own Home … So Much For ‘Generation Rent’ 🏡

Since the mid 2000s, Britain has been told the same bad news housing stories. Young people have been locked out of homeownership. Deposits are impossible to save. Mortgage rules are too strict. And ‘Generation Rent’ is now permanent. According to the narrative by the newspapers, younger generation homeownership has collapsed.

Yet quietly, without much fanfare, the latest Census data paints a very different picture in the UK, and especially in Somerset.

➡️ In 2011, 44.8% of Somerset residents under the age of 35 owned their own home. By 2021, that figure had risen to 55.7%. ⬅️

That is not a small increase. That is a profound social shift.

What makes this even more remarkable is the decade in which it happened. The period between 2011 and 2021 included austerity, Brexit uncertainty, tighter mortgage regulations, rapidly rising house prices in many parts of the country and, towards the end of the decade, a global pandemic.

And yet despite all of that, under 35 homeownerships in Somerset still rose sharply. Indeed, of the county’s 205,299 residents aged 18 to 34 in 2021, more than 110,000 of them, 114,382 to be precise, were living in a home they owned.

➡️ At the same time, private renting in Somerset among under 35s fell from 31.4% to 25.4%. ⬅️

Social renting in the area also dropped from 23.8% to 18.8%.

In simple terms, fewer younger people are renting, and more are owning.

That completely contradicts what many people believe has happened to Britain over the last decade.

Now, before anyone accuses me of pretending everything is rosy, that is clearly not the case. Affordability remains a challenge. Deposits are still difficult to save. Many younger buyers still rely on financial support from family members. And since 2022, higher mortgage rates have unquestionably made life harder again for first-time buyers.

But the Somerset figures reveal something deeper about aspiration and human behaviour. Despite all the headlines about ‘Generation Rent’, younger people still overwhelmingly want to own homes.

Security matters. Stability matters. Putting down roots matters. People still aspire to have somewhere that belongs to them. Perhaps that should not surprise us. Throughout modern history, buying a first home has rarely been easy. Different generations simply faced different barriers.

For younger buyers today, the challenge is often deposits and affordability. For previous generations, it was double digit interest rates, unemployment or restricted lending.

People adapt.

Some buy later. Some buy smaller homes first. Some relocate to more affordable suburbs and towns. Some buy together as couples later in life rather than individually in their twenties. The route may have changed, but the destination has not.

Somerset itself may also explain part of the story. Compared to many larger towns, suburbs and cities across the UK, the area has remained relatively affordable whilst still offering good schooling and increasingly desirable lifestyles for commuters or hybrid workers. Over the last decade, many younger buyers have prioritised value for money and quality of life over expensive city centre living. That trend accelerated sharply after Covid.

Historically low mortgage rates throughout much of the 2010s also undoubtedly helped many younger buyers enter the market, alongside government schemes such as Help to Buy and support from the so called “Bank of Mum and Dad”.

But regardless of the reasons behind it, the outcome remains the same. The idea that younger people have abandoned homeownership simply does not stand up to the evidence nationally and locally. In fact, the exact opposite appears to have happened.

And for local homeowners and landlords, that matters. Because it highlights something important about the future of the local property market. Demand from younger buyers has not disappeared. Far from it. There remains a strong aspiration towards ownership among under 35s, even after one of the most economically turbulent decades in modern British history.

Sometimes the real story is hidden quietly inside the data and statistics.

What are your thoughts on this? Do share them. 🗨️

🏡 Eden May
☎️ 01823 478575
📍 Collar Factory, 112 St Augustine St, Taunton TA1 1QN

24/05/2026

🏠 92% More Taunton Homes For Sale Than 4 Years Ago 🏠

Across the UK and here in Taunton, the property market remains surprisingly active despite the issues at home and abroad. House prices are steady, buyers are still being selective, and the market itself is evolving.

While the headline is eye catching, this is not simply a story of rising numbers of homes for sale. It is a market slowly shifting shape in real time. Whether you are thinking of moving, actively searching, or simply keeping an eye on Taunton house prices, the first third of 2026 has revealed several important trends homeowners should not ignore. So, let me start with the national picture, then look closer to home.

Looking at the year to date, the number of agreed UK property sales by Sunday, 3rd May 2026 was 5.3% lower than the same point a year earlier. On the face of it, that is bad news, isn’t it? Possibly, yet to put that into perspective, let me compare YTD 2026 with other years.

⭐ 421,963 homes across the UK had been sold subject to contract to 3rd May 2026. ⭐

Compared to 445,484 to 3rd May in 2025. Where it’s interesting is when we look at previous years.

➡️ 375,117 to 3rd May 2017/18/19
➡️ 368,120 to 3rd May 2023
➡️ 404,929 to 3rd May 2024

So yes, we are 5.3% down on last year but 4.2% ahead of 2024, 14.6% ahead of 2023 and 12.5% ahead of the pre-Covid averages of 2017/8/9.

Next, let us look at April on its own and see how this year compares with previous Aprils across the national property market.

Starting with the number of house sales agreed nationally.

➡️ April 2023 - 93,535 sales agreed
➡️ April 2024 - 108,958 sales agreed
➡️ April 2025 - 107,816 sales agreed
➡️ April 2026 - 107,222 sales agreed

Now, let us turn our attention to national house prices.

The average UK selling price stood at £358,101 in April 2023, rising to £361,888 in April 2024, dipping slightly to £361,113 in April 2025, before edging up again to £361,651 in April 2026. Overall, that represents only a modest 1% increase over the last three years.

Yet average selling prices only tell part of the story.

Another, and often more revealing way of measuring house price movement is by looking at the average price paid per square foot. On that measure, values have risen much more strongly, climbing from £333 per square foot in April 2023 to £340 in April 2024, £341 in April 2025 and then jumping to £352 in April 2026. That is growth of 5.7% over the same period.

So why the difference?

The answer lies in the type of homes selling. Smaller properties often achieve a higher price per square foot, as do many premium homes at the upper end of the market. Therefore, if a greater proportion of smaller and more expensive homes are selling, it can push the pound per square foot figure higher, even while the overall average selling price appears relatively flat.

In simple terms, headline house prices may look stable, but underneath the surface the composition of the market is changing.

Now we need to delve deeper into the Taunton property market statistics.

🏠 Taunton Property Market Stats

➡️ In April 2023, 129 Taunton homes sold STC, with an average selling price of £332,368 and a price of £306 per square foot for those homes.
➡️ In April 2024, 211 Taunton homes sold STC, with an average selling price in of £347,535 and a price per square foot of £330.
➡️ In April 2025, 183 Taunton homes sold STC, with an average selling price of £359,777 and a price of £336 per square foot for those homes.
➡️ In April 2026, 185 Taunton homes sold STC, with an average selling price of £313,073 and a price of £304 per square foot for those homes.

📍 Next, the number of properties for sale in Taunton.

➡️ April 2023 - 884 Taunton homes for sale
➡️ April 2024 - 1,030 Taunton homes for sale
➡️ April 2025 - 976 Taunton homes for sale
➡️ April 2026 - 1,015 Taunton homes for sale

Interestingly – it was 530 in April 2022 – meaning there are 92% more Taunton homes for sale today than 4 years ago.

⭐ What does it all mean for Taunton homeowners?

House prices are roughly stable; however, if you are selling, you face increased competition.

As I mention in many of my blog posts, just under two thirds of Taunton homes that come to market, end up selling and the homeowner moving (62.32% to be exact for Taunton over the last two years and interesting when compared to the national average of 55.53%). The remaining homes being withdrawn from the market unsold and the homeowner having to put their home moving dreams on hold. This means that you only have roughly a three in five chance of selling if you put your home on the market. Therefore, accurate pricing is more critical than ever, and whilst it is the most important factor, it isn't the only factor.

The Taunton homes attracting the strongest interest in today’s market are rarely there by accident. Often, they are the properties backed by exceptional marketing.

The reality is Taunton’s property market has never been a simple, one direction market, and the first half of 2026 has proved that once again. In some parts of Taunton, well priced homes are selling quickly and attracting strong interest. In other areas, buyers are negotiating harder, not just on price, but also on completion dates, incentives and even what stays in the property.

That is why flexibility has become such an important advantage.

Buyers willing to widen their search area slightly, rethink their priorities or act decisively are often uncovering opportunities others miss. Equally, Taunton sellers who understand the subtle differences between neighbourhoods, property types and surrounding villages are placing themselves in a much stronger position when setting their asking price.

One of the biggest truths many people forget is that most sellers are also buyers. In fact, more than 8 in 10 Taunton homeowners selling their property are simultaneously looking for their next move. That means securing an extra few thousand pounds on your sale is only one part of the equation. A sensible negotiation on your onward purchase can often outweigh any compromise made on your own selling price. Property moving is rarely about winning or losing. It is about balancing both sides of the move successfully.

Taunton also does not operate in isolation. National trends, economic confidence and mortgage rates all influence the local market. Yet despite wider uncertainty over recent years, Taunton has continued to show a quiet resilience. Success in Taunton’s property market for the remainder of 2026 will come down to preparation and adaptability. Buyers need to have finance agreed and must be ready to act quickly when the right property appears. Sellers need realistic pricing, strong marketing and a strategy from day one.

There is still plenty of opportunity in the Taunton property market. But the advantage will belong to those willing to work with the market as it really is, rather than how they hope it might be.

What are you seeing in the Taunton market right now? Are you noticing the same trends, or something completely different? 🗨️

🏡 Eden May
☎️ 01823 478575
📍 Collar Factory, 112 St Augustine St, Taunton TA1 1QN

17/05/2026

🏠 79 Days to Sell a Taunton Home… Unless You Get This Wrong 🏠

If you are a homeowner or landlord in Taunton and thinking about selling in the coming months, one question tends to rise above all others. How long is this going to take?

It is a fair question. Moving home is not just about price, it is about timing, certainty, and momentum. And while every property has its own story, the latest Taunton data does give us a very clear starting point.

Looking at homes that have sold subject to contract this year, the average Taunton property is taking around 79 days to secure a buyer (nationally it’s 76 days). That is a touch shorter than the 80 days we were seeing this time last year, still very much within the range of what we would consider a steady, functioning market. Once a sale is agreed, the legal process to completion is averaging 118 days in Taunton (nationally it’s 119 days). When we look at the Taunton figures for last year, it took an average of 120 days.

So, in simple terms, many Taunton movers are looking at around six to seven months from launch to completion. That is the reality of the modern property market. Not broken, not booming, just steady.

But averages only tell part of the story.

When you break the figures down, the differences between property types begin to emerge. Houses, whether detached, semi or terraced, are currently finding buyers in around 74 days. Flats and apartments are at 105 days, while bungalows are taking 82 days. Then there are the outliers. Park homes, for example, are averaging 64 days, while building plots are around 49 days.

What that tells us is simple. There is no single Taunton market. There are dozens of micro markets, each behaving in their own way depending on buyer demand, property type, and price point.

Which brings us to the real question. Why do some Taunton homes sell quickly while others sit and stagnate?

The answer, more often than not, comes down to two things. Price and presentation.

Let us start with pricing, because this is where most Taunton sales are either won or lost.

It is tempting, especially in a competitive marketplace, to push the asking price slightly higher. Perhaps to leave room for negotiation, or to avoid losing out to another agent at the point of instruction. Yet the data consistently shows that this approach can backfire.

⭐ In Taunton, only 62.21% of homes that left estate agents’ books in the last two years have sold and the homeowner moved home. ⭐

That means more than three Taunton homes in ten do not (a total of 1,732 Taunton homeowners). They came off the market unsold, often after months of frustration.

In many cases, the root cause is not the market. It is the initial pricing strategy.

Taunton buyers today are well informed. They are not comparing your home to what you hope it is worth. They are comparing it to what else is available, what has recently sold, and what represents value. If your home is out of alignment with that reality, it will simply be overlooked.

And timing matters more than most people realise.

Industry data from Denton House shows that if a home secures a buyer within the first 25 days of coming to market, there is a 94% chance that sale will reach completion (i.e., you move home). Leave it beyond 100 days to agree a sale, and that success rate drops to just 56%. In other words, delay early momentum and you dramatically increase the risk of the sale falling apart later. This is why the first few weeks are so critical. Get the pricing right, generate interest quickly, and you give yourself the best possible chance of not just selling, but moving.

The second factor is presentation, and in today’s digital world, that starts online.

⭐ The majority of Taunton buyers begin their search on portals. Your home has a matter of seconds to capture their attention as they scroll. ⭐

That means your photography and overall presentation are not a luxury. They are essential. Poor quality images, dark rooms, or outdated seasonal photos can quietly damage your chances. If your Rightmove photos still have snow in the garden or Christmas decorations in the lounge, this immediately signals to buyers that the property has been sitting on the market for some time. And in a market where buyers have choice, that perception can be enough to move them on to the next listing as they wonder, ‘there must be something wrong with that home’.

Refreshing your marketing as the weeks pass can make a tangible difference. New photographs, updated descriptions, even a repositioning of the price can reignite interest and bring your home back into the spotlight.

Of course, behind both pricing and presentation sits one more crucial decision. Your choice of estate agent.

Not all agents operate in the same way. Some are proactive, constantly communicating with buyers, matching homes to their databases, and giving honest, data driven feedback. Others are more passive, relying on portals alone and hoping the right buyer appears.

⭐ The difference between those approaches can be measured not just in how quickly your Taunton home sells, but whether it sells at all. ⭐

Selling a home in Taunton is not a box ticking exercise. It is a process that requires strategy, judgement, and above all, consistent communication from start to finish. The Taunton property market is active, buyers are present, but they are selective. For every home that will sell in May, there are seven for sale. Buyers reward homeowners that have priced correctly and presented well, and they ignore those that haven’t.

If you are considering a move, the opportunity is there. But success comes down to getting the fundamentals right from day one. Price it correctly. Present it properly. And work with someone who understands how the Taunton market truly operates.

Do that, and you give yourself the best possible chance of turning a for sale board into a sale, and a sale into a successful move to your forever home. 🏠

🏡 Eden May
☎️ 01823 478575
📍 Collar Factory, 112 St Augustine St, Taunton TA1 1QN

16/05/2026

One bed apartment to rent £865 per month, Taunton

23/04/2026

£875 per month
Taunton, parking and communal gardens

01/04/2026

🐾 Preparing for the Renters’ Rights Bill 🐾

As the industry prepares for legislative changes expected to make it easier for tenants to keep pets, we’ve been reviewing how best to support our landlords.

Following increased demand, we are pleased to introduce:

Pet Referencing Checks ✔

✔ Previous landlord references
✔ Behaviour and noise assessment
✔ Furnishing risk profile
✔ “Good Boy / Good Girl” certification

We can confirm our first applicant has now been assessed and approved…
with a few minor observations 😅

29/03/2026

Just back from a great wellness session at recover.uk

🤩Contrast therapy (sauna / ice bath)

🤩Red light sauna

🤩Compression suite

🤩Fresh juices

A beautiful space & it was really interesting hearing Joe explain how each therapy helps both body and mind.

Definitely an experience I’d like to repeat and one I’ll be suggesting to our ‘social secretary’ for a monthly team night out 😉

Thank you to my lovely friend Rachael The Better Living Clinic for the invite 😍

25/03/2026

Two bedroom terraced home with courtyard garden in Taunton £1100 per month

25/03/2026

Three bed family home £1400 per month

18/03/2026