Isle of Wight town among UK's slowest property markets
It's taking nearly four months to sell homes there, according to new research
An Isle of Wight town has been named among the slowest-selling property markets in the UK this year.
Research from property website Rightmove found that homes in Sandown are finding a buyer in 109 days, or around three and a half months, on the market.
The total is the third highest in the UK outside of London, with only Brixham in Devon (118 days) and Skegness in Lincolnshire (115 days) taking longer.
Across Britain, it is taking 60 days on average to find a buyer, Rightmove said.
Central London locations such as Knightsbridge (135 days), Chelsea (108 days) and Victoria (100 days) are the slowest London markets to find a buyer on average.
Rightmove said property prices are likely to be playing a part, as the slowest areas are all "premium" locations with fewer mass market buyers.
Tim Bannister, a property expert at Rightmove, said:
"In London, commuter areas such as Walthamstow and Dagenham are leading the way in finding buyers the quickest, likely driven by well-connected transport links and more affordable prices compared to central zones.
"By contrast, more exclusive central locations like Knightsbridge and Chelsea are taking longer to find buyers, as these high-end markets typically move at a different pace."
It comes as separate research from property website Zoopla found house sales jumped in September as lower mortgage rates boosted the market.
The number of sales being agreed across the UK in recent weeks is 25% higher than a year ago, Zoopla said.
Its market activity data compared the four weeks to September 22 with the same period a year earlier.
More stock is also coming to market - and nearly a third (32%) of homes for sale on Zoopla are being advertised as "chain free".
Coastal and rural areas including Truro in Cornwall and Torquay in Devon have more homes for sale than average, in a sign that second home owners are looking to offload properties, Zoopla said.
It suggested that the growing number of homes for sale is a sign of increased confidence among sellers, including homeowners looking to move as mortgage rates edge down.
Investors and second home owners may also be selling up in response to tax changes and speculation around possible further changes in the autumn Budget, Zoopla suggested.
The most common "chain free" homes are two-bedroom houses, with 41% currently listed as chain free on Zoopla. Previously-rented homes account for 13% of homes for sale on Zoopla.
The website said affordability continues to constrain house price growth, particularly in southern England.