One of the biggest talking points this week has been the 11% week-on-week drop in sales agreed and a drop of 2% on the average asking price of a newly listed properties. While some seasonal softening is entirely normal during the summer holiday period, the scale of this fall has caught the attention of the property industry.

Birmingham’s property market could be facing an interesting period of change, with new research highlighting the enormous potential for additional housing to be built around railway stations and transport hubs.

As school holidays approach, family buyers often become more focused. For sellers with space, gardens or flexible rooms, July can be a useful moment to attract motivated movers.

Summer is traditionally a quieter period for the UK property market, with school holidays, family commitments and overseas travel often causing buyers and sellers to put their plans on hold. This year, however, prolonged hot weather appears to have added to the seasonal slowdown.