The Picket Fence Paradox, CB23 Property Market — August 2026
When I'm out 'walking the streets' a few times a week and I knock on doors of houses for sale, I often hear the same thing: "The market is quiet".
It’s a common myth. People see a "For Sale" sign stay up for a few weeks and assume the world has stopped turning. But here’s the reality: while things aren’t moving at lightning speed, they are moving with a steady, rhythmic pulse. It’s not a jungle, but it’s certainly growing.
Back in January, across my area we were seeing about 30-40 houses selling each week. That number is still the same now, around 40 per week. What's changed is the volume available for sale.
As landlords have started to sell up in the recent lettings upshake, property stock has risen dramatically. In Week 1 of 2026, we had 587 homes for sale across the region. Now, we have 879, despite most weeks still selling around 40 houses per week. But we've been adding 50-60 houses per week (this is reflected in my weekly update videos on Instagram and Facebook).
What are people asking for? If you look at the price tags on the property websites for CB23, for example - the average asking price currently sits at £495,124.
Think of this as the "dream number." It’s what your neighbours hope to get when they first decide to pack up their boxes. It’s a pretty confident figure, roughly what you’d expect to pay for a lovely, spacious three-bedroom semi-detached home with a decent garden in a spot like Upper Cambourne. It shows that people living here still value our area very highly.
The "Shop Window" vs The "Checkout" However, there is a fascinating little gap between that "dream number" and what people actually tap into their banking apps on moving day. While the asking price is nearly £500k, the average price people actually paid over the last 12 months was £435,595.
Did you know that this gap tells us a secret? It tells us that buyers are being a bit more cheeky with their offers, and sellers are being kind enough to listen. In CB23, it’s common for a deal to be struck for about £60,000 less than the original "hopeful" price. It’s not a sign of a "bad" market; it’s just a sign that people are chatting, haggling, and finding a middle ground that works for everyone.
Is there much to choose from? If you’re a buyer, you’re in luck. There are currently 106 properties for sale across the postcode. Whether you’re eyeing up a sleek flat near the Cambourne business park or a character cottage on the outskirts of Highfields Caldecote, there is plenty of variety. We aren’t in a "shortage" right now—there’s a healthy buffet of homes to choose from.
The Seven-Year Surprise This is my favourite bit of data to share. If you bought an average home in CB23 exactly seven years ago, it would have cost you about £331,192. Today, that same home is worth £104,403 more.
That is a staggering 31.5% increase. To put that in perspective, your house has basically been "earning" nearly £15,000 a year just by sitting there looking pretty. That’s real money in your pocket—wealth that could pay for a child’s university, a dream holiday, or a very comfortable retirement.
The Big Picture In the last year, we’ve seen 1400+ sales go through, from the first-time buyers picking up keys in Great Cambourne to those downsizing to something more manageable in Bourn, the market is very much alive.
If you’re thinking of selling, the key is to be realistic about that "gap" between the asking price and the final sale. If you’re buying, you have more power than you’ve had in years. Either way, our little slice of the world remains a fantastic place to call home.