How Expats Are Securing £50,000 Discounts and Releasing Equity in Today’s Buyers’ Market

The UK housing market has shifted firmly in favour of buyers and investors. According to dailymail.com sellers are more motivated. Asking prices are falling and chain-free or cash-positioned purchasers — including a growing number of expats — are locking in meaningful discounts. Recent data shows landlords and investors routinely securing 10% or more off asking prices. This often equates to £45,000–£50,000 on a typical £400,000 property.

At Liquid Expat Mortgages we are currently helping many overseas clients take advantage of these conditions. Whether they are buying their next UK investment, expanding a portfolio, or raising capital from existing UK properties through remortgaging. Here is what the numbers show and how expats are positioning themselves.

Why the Market Favours Buyers and Investors Right Now

global.morningstar.com reports that the housing market sentiment remains subdued. Some developers are describing some of the weakest selling conditions in decades. Rightmove reported the largest August drop in newly listed asking prices since 2018. The 2% fall represents around £7,360 on the average home. The national price average is £364,999 with supply at a 12-year high for the time of year. The portal has revised its 2026 forecast to between 0% and –2%.

Given the current environment, experienced investors are moving quickly to secure some great deals. According to Hamptons analysis of Connells Group data:

• The average landlord paid just 88.7% of the initial asking price in July. So a home listed at £400,000 is typically completing at around £354,800.
• Half of all investor offers (rising to 56–63% among cash buyers) came in at least 10% below asking. This the highest level since the April 2020 lockdown.
• Sellers are accepting these lower offers more readily: 27% of investor offers that were 10%+ below asking were accepted in July (up from 18% a year earlier). For leasehold properties the acceptance rate rose to 41%.

City-centre flats have been particularly soft. In locations such as Sheffield (postcode area S1), Birmingham (postcode area B1), Leicester and Newcastle, sellers have been taking average losses of around £40,000, with more than 60% of flat sellers in some postcodes completing at a loss over the past year. Southern England (excluding London) has seen some of the highest proportions of aggressive investor offers.

The Expat Advantage — and How We Are Helping Clients Act

As an overseas buyer or landlord you often hold exactly the attributes sellers value most right now: no chain, potential access to cash or strong equity, and the ability to complete efficiently. These strengths become even more powerful when the market is soft and sellers have become pragmatic after months of limited viewings.

Many of the expats we work with are using the current conditions in two complementary ways:

1. Acquiring new properties at discounted prices. Buy-to-let opportunities offer opportunities as lower purchase prices can improve yields even if borrowing costs remain elevated.
2. Raising capital from existing UK portfolios. By remortgaging or restructuring finance on properties already owned in the UK released equity is being used to fund further purchases. This can reduce higher-cost debt, or provide liquidity while living overseas.

As we specialise exclusively in expat and non-resident cases, we see a steady flow of clients who want to move quickly when the right opportunity appears. Competitive fixed-rate and buy-to-let products designed for overseas applicants remain available. Early preparation of an Agreement in Principle often strengthens a negotiating position.

Practical Steps Many Expats Are Taking

• Targeting properties that have been on the market for several months, especially flats and leaseholds, where sellers are more open to lower offers.
• Focusing on regions and property types showing the clearest discounts.
• Securing mortgage terms in advance so they can act decisively.
• Reviewing existing UK portfolios to identify equity that can be released or restructured on more favourable terms.

Why Timing Matters

The combination of elevated stock levels, falling asking prices, motivated sellers and higher acceptance of discounted offers does not last indefinitely. Once confidence returns or supply tightens, the depth of discounts available today is likely to narrow. At the same time, rental demand in many areas continues to provide useful support for investors.

Whether you are looking to buy a UK property from overseas, expand an existing portfolio at a better entry price, or raise money from properties you already own in the UK, the current market conditions reward preparation and specialist advice.

Ready to Explore Your Options?

We are already helping a significant number of expats navigate these opportunities — from first-time overseas purchases through to portfolio remortgages and equity release. Contact Liquid Expat Mortgages for a free, no-obligation discussion about current market conditions, the mortgage solutions available to non-residents, and how you can position yourself to take advantage. The discounts and capital-raising possibilities are real and the clients who prepare early are the ones best placed to benefit.

Contact Liquid Expat Mortgages today for a free, no-obligation consultation and discover the mortgage options available based on your country of residence, income and investment goals.

Liquid Expat Mortgages
Suite 4b, Link 665 Business Centre,
Todd Hall Rd,
Haslingden, Rossendale
BB4 5HU
Phone: 0161 871 1216
www.liquidexpatmortgages.com

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