Since 2008, house prices have risen by a breathtaking 44 per cent. Where once the average property was worth £176,852, buyers can now expect to pay at least £277,000 for a home in the UK.

In some regions, the increase is even sharper. In London, house prices have risen from an average of £298,596 (January 2008) to £529,882 (February 2022), an astronomical 56%. In other regions however, the increase is less severe. The North West for instance, has seen average house prices rise by 31%, from £148,289 to £203,538. 

Regardless of regional disparities, it’s clear that UK homes are costing buyers more than ever before. But how does the cost of property compare to inflation and other expenses? What other products, if any, are increasing in price, and at a similar rate? And how do our salaries fare in line with the steep rise of property?

## Average house price by year (2008 - February 2022)

_Data collected from the Land Registry’s UK House Price Index._

| Year          | Average house price |
| ------------- | ------------------- |
| 2008          | £176,852.75         |
| 2009          | £161,147.91         |
| 2010          | £170,364.58         |
| 2011          | £167,888.41         |
| 2012          | £168,555.66         |
| 2013          | £172,889.66         |
| 2014          | £186,769.75         |
| 2015          | £197,890            |
| 2016          | £211,724            |
| 2017          | £221,402.66         |
| 2018          | £228,354.08         |
| 2019          | £230,611.83         |
| 2020          | £237,217.58         |
| 2021          | £259,575.66         |
| February 2022 | £277,000.00         |

The table above depicts the rise of property prices in the UK from the year 2008 to February 2022. From 2008 to 2009, the market struggled under the weights of the Financial Crisis and the Great Recession. While house prices increased in 2010 to £170,364, they dipped once more in 2011 to £167,888, as the market grappled with the ramifications of the global economic downturn.

Since 2011 however, property prices have not faltered. In 2021, we saw some of the largest growth in 14 years, with an increase of 9% from 2020 to £259,575.66. If house prices continue to rise, we may see this record broken again by the end of 2022.

This significant rise in property value is rooted in a number of factors. The UK has faced an acute housing shortage for decades. With more buyers than sellers, competition for new homes has pushed prices up. Moreover, recent government incentives, like the Stamp Duty Holiday have helped catalyse house prices to new historic heights.

## How has inflation affected our house prices?

Inflation is the rate at which the prices of goods and services increase over a period of time. Healthy economies have a low and stable rate of inflation, but high and unstable rates of inflation can be harmful and may cause people to be priced out of goods and services.

The most comprehensive way to measure inflation is the Consumer Prices Index with housing costs, or CPIH. Not only does the index cover consumer goods and services, but it measures the rise of costs associated with owning, maintaining and living in one’s own home, known as owner occupiers’ housing costs (OOH), as well as council tax.

_Data collected from the Office for National Statistics’ Inflation and Price Indices._

| Year          | CPIH |
| ------------- | ---- |
| 2008          | 3.5% |
| 2009          | 2%   |
| 2010          | 2.5% |
| 2011          | 3.8% |
| 2012          | 2.6% |
| 2013          | 2.3% |
| 2014          | 1.5% |
| 2015          | 0.4% |
| 2016          | 1%   |
| 2017          | 2.6% |
| 2018          | 2.3% |
| 2019          | 1.7% |
| 2020          | 1%   |
| 2021          | 2.5% |
| January 2022  | 4.9% |
| February 2022 | 5.5% |
| March 2022    | 6.2% |

On average, inflation rose to its highest in 2008 and 2011, where prices were 3.5% and 3.8% higher than they were in the preceding years. 

While relatively low in 2020 and 2021, inflation is on the rise in 2022. It’s set to increase from 6.2% to 9% - the highest rate in over 30 years.

**But where do property prices fit in?**

### Are properties rising in value in line with inflation?

The simple answer is no. Properties are rising in value far beyond the rate of inflation. As mentioned earlier, property prices rose at an astonishing 9% in 2021, completely dwarfing the CPIH’s inflation rate of 2.5% the same year. The previous year (2020) saw property prices rise by 2.8%, whereas inflation rose by just 1%.

To take a closer look, we researched the annual prices of some common consumer goods - white bread, bananas, and the cornerstone of any British household, Freddos.

## Food price changes since 2008

### White bread loaf

_Data collected from the Office for National Statistics’ Inflation and Price Indices._

| Year             | Price of white bread loaf |
| ---------------- | ------------------------- |
| 2008             | £1.19                     |
| 2009             | £1.23                     |
| 2010             | £1.20                     |
| 2011             | £1.20                     |
| 2012             | £1.24                     |
| 2013             | £1.30                     |
| 2014             | £1.16                     |
| 2015             | £1.04                     |
| 2016             | £1.00                     |
| 2017             | £1.03                     |
| 2018             | £1.06                     |
| 2019             | £1.06                     |
| 2020             | £1.05                     |
| 2021             | £1.07                     |
| As of March 2022 | £1.14                     |

### Bananas

_Data collected from the Office for National Statistics’ Inflation and Price Indices._

| Year             | Cost of bananas by KG |
| ---------------- | --------------------- |
| 2008             | £0.90                 |
| 2009             | £0.93                 |
| 2010             | £0.98                 |
| 2011             | £0.85                 |
| 2012             | £0.87                 |
| 2013             | £0.88                 |
| 2014             | £0.87                 |
| 2015             | £0.86                 |
| 2016             | £0.85                 |
| 2017             | £0.90                 |
| 2018             | £0.93                 |
| 2019             | £0.95                 |
| 2020             | £0.87                 |
| 2021             | £0.80                 |
| As of March 2022 | £0.90                 |

### Freddo

| Year             | Cost of Freddos |
| ---------------- | --------------- |
| 2008             | £0.15           |
| 2009             | £0.17           |
| 2010             | £0.20           |
| 2011             | £0.20           |
| 2012             | £0.20           |
| 2013             | £0.20           |
| 2014             | £0.25           |
| 2015             | £0.25           |
| 2016             | £0.25           |
| 2017             | £0.30           |
| 2018             | £0.25           |
| 2019             | £0.25           |
| 2020             | £0.25           |
| 2021             | £0.25           |
| As of March 2022 | £0.25           |

Here are some key takeaways from the datasets:

* White bread loafs were £1.19 in 2008 (CPIH 3.5%), rose to their highest in 2013 at £1.30 (CIPH 2.3%), but are now £1.14. 
* Bananas were £0.90 in 2008 (CIPH 3.5%), rose to their highest in 2019 at £0.95 (CPIH 1.7%), but are now £0.90. 
* Freddos were £0.15 in 2008 (CPIH 3.5%), rose to their highest in 2017 at £0.30 (CPIH 2.6%) but have dropped to £0.25 since.

Though we are in the middle of a cost of living crisis, consumer items have cost our wallets substantially more in the past. Whether or not they will drastically rise in the near future remains to be seen. Conversely, UK properties are, on average, worth 44% more than they were in 2008.

There _are_ periods when these items have increased beyond the average rate of inflation:

| Years       | Item             | Price increase (%) | House prices increase (%) | CPIH (%) |
| ----------- | ---------------- | ------------------ | ------------------------- | -------- |
| 2012 - 2013 | White bread loaf | 4.7%               | 2.53%                     | 2.3%     |
| 2009 - 2010 | Bananas          | 5.2%               | 5.56%                     | 2.5%     |
| 2016 - 2017 | Freddos          | 18.8%              | 4.46%                     | 2.6%     |

As you can see above, there have been periods where white bread loafs, bananas and Freddos have increased beyond the rate of house prices and inflation. However, they are now significantly lower than they were at their highest value. House prices, on the other hand, have continued to rise at breakneck pace.

## How have salaries changed vs house prices?

Perhaps the biggest indicator of growth in property value is its disparity to our income. In 1997, the Office for National Statistics recorded the average salary for a full-time role at £16,500 a year. The average house price was £63,085 - 3.8 times the average salary.

In 2021 however, the average UK salary for a full-time role was recorded as £38,131. In the same year, the average house price was recorded at £259,575.66, 6.8 times the average salary.

Salaries have increased on average by 79% while house prices have increased by an average of 121.8%

In less than 24 years, house prices have vastly outstripped our annual earnings by another 56%.

## How big events and crises affected UK house prices

While property has boomed over the last 14 years, it hasn’t been without some turbulence. Since 2008, numerous events and crises have profoundly impacted the economy. How has the UK property market responded to these events, and how deeply have they affected its buoyancy?

### Financial Crisis, Great Recession and Recovery (2008 - 2012)

The Great Recession saw thousands of UK workers lose their jobs. The economy shrank for five quarters in a row. By the end of 2011, almost 2.7 million people were looking for work. 

In the table below, you can certainly see the impact. House prices plummeted by 9.2% in 2009. After regaining some of the ground they lost in 2010, they shrank to £167,888.41 in 2011, only to grow by just £1000 in 2012. 

While certainly a turbulent period for the property market, house prices eventually began to rise once more. They have not fallen annually since. 

| Year | Average house price |
| ---- | ------------------- |
| 2008 | £176,852.75         |
| 2009 | £161,147.91         |
| 2010 | £170,364.58         |
| 2011 | £167,888.41         |
| 2012 | £168,555.66         |

### Brexit vote with public voting in favour of UK leaving EU (2016 - 2019)

In June 2016, UK citizens voted in favour of leaving the European Union. A highly controversial vote, and one with long-reaching consequences, the market floundered in the months following.

However, by June 2019, average property prices had stabilised, having grown by almost £15,000 (7.7%). It seems the UK’s departure from the EU had a negligible impact on house prices.

| Month/Year     | House price |
| -------------- | ----------- |
| June 2016      | £212,887    |
| July 2016      | £215,127    |
| August 2016    | £215,145    |
| September 2016 | £214,816    |
| October 2016   | £214,107    |
| November 2016  | £215,113    |
| December 2016  | £215,000    |
| June 2017      | £221,883    |
| August 2018    | £231,898    |
| January 2019   | £228,314    |
| June 2019      | £230,049    |

### Covid 19 Pandemic Crisis (2020 - 2022)

The ongoing Covid 19 Pandemic resulted in the largest global recession since the Great Depression. To combat its effect on the economy, the UK Government created a series of initiatives, including the Furlough Scheme and the Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) Holiday. The SDLT Holiday is credited with having saved the housing market from turmoil. It’s also partly responsible for catalysing house prices into perilous new heights.

In the data below, you can see that prices dipped in May, just after the looming virus had invaded the UK and Boris Johnson announced the ‘Stay at home’ message. The following month saw the beginning of the SDLT Holiday and a return to market buoyancy.

Though prices dipped in the months following the end of the Stamp Duty Holiday in June 2021, they have since made a comeback. As of February 2022, properties in the UK are worth £277,000 on average.

| Month/Year                            | House price |
| ------------------------------------- | ----------- |
| March 2020 (Stay at home)             | £232,684    |
| May 2020                              | £231,508    |
| June 2020 (Stamp Duty Holiday begins) | £234,703    |
| July 2020                             | £236,687    |
| August 2020                           | £238,998    |
| June 2021 (Stamp Duty Holiday ends)   | £266,283    |
| July 2021                             | £254,564    |
| February 2022                         | £277,000    |

## Summary: First-time buyers face perilous new heights

There’s a fine balance between keeping the market both alive and affordable. Unfortunately, for many first-time buyers, it’s a steeper climb than ever to take that first step on the property ladder. 

The speed at which property prices have risen over the last fourteen years does prompt questions about what government intervention, if any, might occur in the near future.

In April last year, the Mortgage Guarantee Scheme (MGS) was launched to give lenders the option to purchase a guarantee on mortgage loans for buyers with less than a 10% deposit. MGS can be used on new build homes and existing homes by first-time buyers, home movers and remortgagers.

This programme does seem to serve a purpose, aiding a similar level of transactions as Help to Buy Equity Loans did in their early days. The question is this: are government schemes that feed demand without addressing supply, the answer to the problem?

Launched in 2013, the Help to Buy programme was touted to be a major intervention in helping buyers secure their first home. However, many criticised its artificial inflation of house prices. Now, there are two such schemes running alongside each other, at a time when property values are already climbing at an alarming rate. 

Whether some future government action will address these issues, remains to be seen. Perhaps a more consistent approach, like expanding residential areas and building more houses, would be a far more sustainable way to address affordability in the long run.

House prices have risen by nearly 50% since the last Financial Crisis

How do house prices compare to 2008? Read our exclusive piece to find out more.

House prices rise by nearly 50% since last Financial Crisis | GetAgent

House prices have risen by nearly 50% since last Financial Crisis

It’s no surprise that houses located near supermarkets lead significant premiums in the property market. But the market is an unpredictable place at the best of times. Since the beginning of the pandemic, house prices have boomed by 15.5%. 

With this in mind, we analysed the value of properties surrounding 13,000 UK supermarkets of all brands. From Asda to Aldi, we set out to see which name commands the biggest premium in today’s market, and which has seen the strongest performance where price growth is concerned.

## What we discovered

**Buying a home near a supermarket comes with a 22% price premium but one chain carries a premium of almost 250%.**

Our analysis found that homes near supermarkets cost, on average, £338,887, a premium of £60,451 or 22% compared to current UK average house prices. However, when looking at the ‘Big Four’ supermarkets (Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons), this premium climbs higher to average at 23% or £64,907.

But of all brands, **the most expensive to buy near is Whole Foods**, a popular American supermarket that has clearly made its mark in the UK. The average property near Whole Foods costs around £970,147 - a 248% premium versus the wider UK average.

### Supermarket house prices have outperformed the wider UK market

Most supermarkets appear to command healthy house price premiums. Waitrose, for example, has a premium of 81%, followed by Budgens with 74%, Marks and Spencer with 48%, Sainsbury’s with 39%, and Londis at 32%.

However, as well as commanding good premiums, supermarket house prices have also outperformed the wider UK market in terms of price growth within the past year. Since May 2021, average UK house prices increased by 10.7%, while homes near markets have grown by 11.1%

### The supermarket with the most impressive growth

The most impressive growth across supermarket properties were areas surrounding Budgens, with property values increasing by 14% in the last year alone. Homeowners living near Co-op (12%), Morrissons (11%), Waitrose (11%) and Londis (11%) also enjoyed some of the strongest house price growth.

### The most affordable supermarket properties

In terms of the most affordable supermarket house prices, properties located near Asda can be purchased for an average of £242,930, over -12.8% below the national average. Properties near Lidl cost -10.1% below the national average, while properties near Aldi can be snapped for -9.8% below the average.

## Data and methodology

| Supermarket brand     | Supermarket house price (May 2021) | Current average supermarket house price | Change (%) | Supermarket premium vs UK average (%) |
| --------------------- | ---------------------------------- | --------------------------------------- | ---------- | ------------------------------------- |
| Whole Foods Market    | £844,130                           | £970,147                                | 9.7%       | 248.4%                                |
| Waitrose              | £453,346                           | £504,392                                | 11.3%      | 81.2%                                 |
| Budgens               | £425,564                           | £484,108                                | 13.8%      | 73.9%                                 |
| Marks and Spencer     | £372,971                           | £412,961                                | 10.7%      | 48.3%                                 |
| Sainsburys            | £351,696                           | £386,389                                | 9.9%       | 38.8%                                 |
| Londis                | £330,360                           | £367,664                                | 11.3%      | 32.0%                                 |
| Tesco                 | £322,881                           | £356,956                                | 10.6%      | 28.2%                                 |
| The Co-Operative Food | £273,827                           | £306,315                                | 11.9%      | 10.0%                                 |
| Iceland               | £265,305                           | £292,900                                | 10.4%      | 5.2%                                  |
| Morrisons             | £258,678                           | £288,147                                | 11.4%      | 3.5%                                  |
| Aldi                  | £226,301                           | £251,057                                | 10.9%      | -9.8%                                |
| Lidl                  | £227,620                           | £250,206                                | 9.9%       | -10.1%                               |
| Asda                  | £219,468                           | £242,930                                | 10.7%      | -12.8%                               |
| Overall average       | £305,158                           | £338,887                                | 11.1%      | 21.7%                                 |
| Average of big 4*    | £310,806                           | £343,343                                | 10.5%      | 23.3%                                 |
| UK average            | £251,623                           | £278,436                                | 10.7%      | N/A                                   |

* The Big 4: Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrissons

### Methodology 

Supermarket outcode house price data sourced from Propertydata.co.uk based on analysis of over 13,000 supermarkets.

Budgens beats Waitrose with highest house price growth

From Asda to Aldi, we set out to see which name commands the biggest premium in today’s market, and which has seen the strongest performance where price growth is concerned.

Over the last few years, UK estate agents have been working around the clock to help homesellers conclude their transactions to the best of their ability. During a very difficult period of pandemic, the property market experienced a boom that’s lasted to this day. This, along with rising buyer demand, has kept our country’s agents extremely busy.

However, our research reveals that UK estate agents only just break the top 10 when it comes to the best paid in the world. Furthermore, when it comes to comparing agent salaries with overall average earnings in their respective nations, our agents slip even further down the list.

## Estate Agent salary by country

In the table below, we outline 21 major countries (including the UK) and the annual base salaries of their respective estate agents.

| Country               | Average estate agent salary (£ per year) |
| -------------------- | ---------------------------------------- |
| Argentina            | £7,701                                   |
| Brazil               | £14,263                                  |
| Russia               | £10,552                                  |
| Canada               | £48,262                                  |
| Australia            | £51,809                                  |
| United Arab Emirates | £42,454                                  |
| New Zealand          | £40,019                                  |
| South Africa         | £15,528                                  |
| Turkey               | £4,757                                   |
| Hong Kong            | £44,128                                  |
| Germany              | £42,756                                  |
| Japan                | £36,299                                  |
| United Kingdom       | £39,257                                  |
| United States        | £51,365                                  |
| Spain                | £28,779                                  |
| Singapore            | £39,665                                  |
| India                | £6,177                                   |
| Italy                | £32,227                                  |
| France               | £37,586                                  |
| China                | £18,345                                  |
| South Korea          | £24,350                                  |

## Average estate agent salary in UK

It’s clear that estate agent wages vary massively from country to country. Our analysis reveals that the UK estate agent salary **is £39,257** making them the ninth best paid in the world. In comparison, the best paid agents can be found in the United States (£51,365), Australia (£51,809), and Canada (£48,262).

On the other end of the scale, Turkey, India, and Argentina accommodate some of the least paid agents, who earn an average of £4,757, £6,177, and £7,701 respectively.

## Estate agent salary compared to average salary

To get a picture of how agents rank in terms of value within their respective countries, we compared their average salaries to their country’s overall average earnings.

| Country               | Average estate agent base salary per year (£) | Average national base salary per year (£) | Difference vs average base salary (%) | Difference vs average base salary (£) |
| -------------------- | --------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------- |
| Argentina            | £7,701                                        | £5,356                                    | 43.8%                                 | £2,345                                |
| Brazil               | £14,263                                       | £12,011                                   | 18.8%                                 | £2,253                                |
| Russia               | £10,552                                       | £9,120                                    | 15.7%                                 | £1,432                                |
| Canada               | £48,262                                       | £42,535                                   | 13.5%                                 | £5,727                                |
| Australia            | £51,809                                       | £46,335                                   | 11.8%                                 | £5,474                                |
| United Arab Emirates | £42,454                                       | £38,631                                   | 9.9%                                  | £3,822                                |
| New Zealand          | £40,019                                       | £36,984                                   | 8.2%                                  | £3,036                                |
| South Africa         | £15,528                                       | £14,435                                   | 7.6%                                  | £1,093                                |
| Turkey               | £4,757                                        | £4,430                                    | 7.4%                                  | £327                                  |
| Hong Kong            | £44,128                                       | £41,132                                   | 7.3%                                  | £2,996                                |
| Germany              | £42,756                                       | £40,197                                   | 6.4%                                  | £2,558                                |
| Japan                | £36,299                                       | £34,243                                   | 6%                                    | £2,057                                |
| United Kingdom       | £39,257                                       | £37,265                                   | 5.3%                                  | £1,992                                |
| United States        | £51,365                                       | £48,845                                   | 5.2%                                  | £2,520                                |
| Spain                | £28,779                                       | £27,445                                   | 4.9%                                  | £1,334                                |
| Singapore            | £39,665                                       | £37,851                                   | 4.8%                                  | £1,815                                |
| India                | £6,177                                        | £5,954                                    | 3.7%                                  | £223                                  |
| Italy                | £32,227                                       | £31,117                                   | 3.6%                                  | £1,110                                |
| France               | £37,586                                       | £38,557                                   | \-2.5%                                | \-£971                                |
| China                | £18,345                                       | £19,137                                   | \-4.1%                                | \-£791                                |
| South Korea          | £24,350                                       | £30,417                                   | \-19.9%                               | \-£6,067                              |

### Estate agent average salary vs average national salary

UK agents slide from ninth place to 13th, with their average salary being just 5.3%, or £1,992 above the national average income of £37,265. In Argentina however, estate agents earn 43.8% more than the average national income, closely followed by Brazil (18.8%), and then Russia (15.7%). 

At the other end of the table, South Korean agents earn -19.9% less than the average national income, followed by China (-4.1%) and Russia (-2.5%).

### How much do estate agents earn in london?

[Estate agents in London](https://www.getagent.co.uk/area/london/estate-agents) tend to earn a bit more than the average agent working in the UK. An average UK agent can expect to earn a base salary of £37,265, whereas an estate agent operating in London **could earn a larger salary of £50,263** - a result of higher living costs.

#### So, do UK estate agents make good money?

Clearly, UK agents aren’t the worst paid real estate workers in the world, but they are still a long way off from being the most. How much an estate agent makes varies from individual to individual, depending on their base salary and commission. 

## What commission do estate agents get?

The commission an estate agent earns depends upon the fees they charge homesellers.

### Do estate agents get paid hourly?

Most UK estate agents earn a basic salary rather than being paid by the hour. Most also earn some form of commission.

### So how much do estate agents charge?

On average, [UK estate agents charge a percentage fee between 0.75% and 3%](https://www.getagent.co.uk/estate-agent-fees) (including VAT) from the final sale price of properties they sell. 

For example, if an agent successfully sells a property for £250,000, their agency will receive £3,750. How much of this goes to the individual agent that sold the property varies based on their contract, with some agencies awarding 10 - 20% of the final fee.

## How to become an estate agent

Do you think you have what it takes to become an estate agent? There’s a lot of hard work involved, but the rewards are worth it. Not only do you need to be a dedicated and determined individual, but you need a passion for marketing, communication and negotiation. 

If you’ve been following the exploits of the Oppenheim Group [in Selling Sunset](https://www.getagent.co.uk/blog/property-news/selling-sunset-increasing-searches-for-how-to-be-an-estate-agent), you might have some idea of [how agencies work](https://www.getagent.co.uk/guide/estate-agents/what-do-estate-agents-do). Alas, things work a little differently in the UK.

### How to get into real estate in the UK

In the UK, there are currently no formal requirements to become an estate agent and you do not need a real estate licence. Some agencies provide new agents with training courses and programmes to help them get up to speed.

Many UK agents started their careers as apprentices and worked their way up agencies. Others began by completing sales courses and earning diplomas to boost their employability.

Many estate agents often choose to get a professional qualification to validate their training. The most commonly recognised qualifications come from Propertymark Qualifications, a UK specialist organisation which is associated with the National Association of Estate Agents professional body, NAEA Property Mark.
### How it works in the US

In the US, things work a little differently. Real estate agents must:

Take a state-approved real estate pre-licensing programme
Pass a licensing exam. 
After passing the exam, agents can activate their licences and join a brokerage. 

This can take as long as five to six months.

UK fans of the Netflix show Selling Sunset may have some preconceived notions of how much UK agents can earn. In the table below, we compare London agent’s fees to those in LA and other popular areas.

| Location    | Average estate agent salary (£ per year) |
| ----------- | ---------------------------------------- |
| London      | £50,263                                  |
| Los Angeles | £57,123                                  |
| Florida     | £48,954                                  |
| California  | £57,489                                  |
| Dubai       | £44,348                                  |

While London agents rank third behind Los Angeles and California, these US estate agents often earn much more thanks to their lucrative commission schemes and high value properties.

UK agents struggle to break into the Top 10 of the world’s best paid

Our research reveals that UK estate agents only just break the top 10 when it comes to the best paid in the world.

How much do estate agents earn around the world?

Since 2019, Selling Sunset has taken the limelight as one of TV’s most addictive series. Every year, millions of avid fans tune in to get the latest on the lavish mansions, office drama and eye-watering commissions of the estate agents from the Oppenheim Group. For many of us, the glamorous team of estate agents provide a real dose of escapism, as they attempt to sell Los Angeles’ most expensive real estate to the rich and famous.

# Selling Sunset driving an increase in ‘How to be an estate agent’ searches

With the fifth season of the show having released earlier this month, we at GetAgent decided to take a look at the effect the show’s been having on the UK’s would-be estate agents.  We analysed Google Trends data from 2022 to show how estate agent related search terms have peaked since the 5th season of Netflix show ‘Selling Sunset’ began.

| Google Searches                      | Per Annum | Search increase (From 21st April to Monday 25th) |
| ------------------------------------ | --------- | ------------------------------------------------ |
| ‘Estate agents salary’               | 28,800    | 53%                                              |
| ‘How much does an estate agent earn’ | 15,600    | 116%                                             |
| ‘How to be an estate agent’          | 3,120     | 244%                                             |

Search terms regarding estate agent salary and the process of becoming an estate agent have increased in volume to nearly 244% over a four day period from the programme’s latest release.

To solidify our findings, we also checked the search interest for phrases including the term ‘real estate agents’. In the United States, ‘realtors’ and ‘real estate agents' are the primary phrases used to describe estate agents. As ‘Selling Sunset’ is based in Los Angeles, it stands to reason that UK audiences may use these search terms to inquire about UK agency opportunities.

![GetAgent Google Trends data: How to become a real estate agent](//images.ctfassets.net/us6n8ous4bz0/2M2MEndOoj8o388sC201Vn/b6bb9a9cb3b60fdba083ada4acec2a54/google-trends-GetAgent-selling-sunset-jpg.png)

The chart above illustrates interest over time for the search term ‘How to become a real estate agent’. Throughout the 2017 and 2018 periods, the volume is fairly static, until an upsurge in late 2019. The first season of ‘Selling Sunset’ released in March 2019, while the second season released on the 22nd of May 2020. As you can see, there is a clear upward trend in interest tracing back to the first release of ‘Selling Sunset’.

## Estate agents in the UK

The positive effect ‘Selling Sunset’ has had on inspiring estate agents in the UK is clear. However, it’s important to note that working as an estate agent in the UK isn’t exactly the same as the day-to-day lives of Chrishell and Christine. You can read more about [what estate agents do](https://www.getagent.co.uk/guide/estate-agents/what-do-estate-agents-do) in the UK, in our guide.

### So, how much do Estate agents make?

The average estate agent salary in the UK is between £30,000 to £40,000, with most agents living on an [additional commission scheme](https://www.getagent.co.uk/estate-agent-fees). With the [average price of a property in the UK](https://www.getagent.co.uk/house-prices) currently sitting at around £399,844 however, you’re unlikely to earn the gigantic commissions of those at the Oppenheim Group.

## Becoming an estate agent

For those considering a career in real estate and what qualifications you need to become an estate agent - there are currently no formal requirements to become an agent in the UK. Many agencies provide new employees with their own training programmes.

However, many agents choose to get a professional qualification to validate their training. The most commonly recognised qualifications come from Propertymark Qualifications, a UK specialist organisation which is associated with the National Association of Estate Agents professional body, NAEA Property Mark.

Estate agents in the UK can achieve an abundant, successful and rewarding career, with many earning high salaries. Plus, there’s nothing to stop you injecting some outrageous outfits and a little drama into your life as an estate agent, Selling-Sunset style! 

## Methodology

_Google Trend numbers represent search interest relative to the highest point on the chart for the given region and time (with 100 equalling peak popularity). It’s these numbers that we’ve used to calculate the increases in search interest._

Selling Sunset Effect: 244% increase in searches for ‘How to be an estate agent’

With the fifth season of Selling Sunset having released earlier this month, we at GetAgent decided to take a look at the effect the show’s been having on the UK’s would-be estate agents. 

Selling Sunset driving an increase in ‘How to be an estate agent’ searches

The Selling Sunset Effect

It's currently a great time to be a homeseller. House prices in England and Wales are at an all time high and properties are flying off the shelves.

But every once in a while, it can be very lucrative to be a certain type of homeseller. If you’re looking to sell on one of the country’s pancake-themed roads, you might be in for a sweet surprise.

## Pancake properties are batter than average

We analysed sold data (based on residential transactions over the last year) across England and Wales. Our research revealed that, on average, pancake-related properties cost £330,275 - that’s 15% more than the national average.

| Pancake Day Words         | Median Sold Price | Difference vs England and Wales Average |
| ------------------------- | ----------------- | --------------------------------------- |
| Pancake                   | £617,500          | 114%                                    |
| Milk                      | £415,000          | 44%                                     |
| Tuesday                   | £387,000          | 34%                                     |
| Lent                      | £288,500          | 0%                                      |
| Sugar                     | £259,250          | -10%                                   |
| Butter                    | £255,000          | -12%                                   |
| Flour                     | £239,950          | -17%                                   |
| Lemon                     | £180,000          | -38%                                   |
| Pancake Average           | £330,275          | 14%                                     |
| England and Wales Average | £288,498          | N/A                                     |

## Top of the stack road names

The number one pancake-related road name to live on is - you guessed it - ‘Pancake’, with properties on roads like Pancake Lane in [Hemel Hempstead selling for £617,500](https://www.getagent.co.uk/area/hemel-hempstead) last year. That’s a flipping 114% higher than the national average.

In second place is ‘Milk’, with an eggcelent average sale price of £415,000 in the last year on streets like Milk Street in the West Midlands. 

‘Tuesday’ scores third in the table with an average sale price of £387,000, while streets with ‘Lent’ in the name score around the national average.

## Affordable properties for sweet-toothed homebuyers

If you’re a sweet-toothed homebuyer looking for that perfect property, we’ve got some affordable pancake-themed roads you’ll just love. Homebuyers should look to roads with Sugar (£259,250), Butter (£255,000), Flour (£239,950) and Lemon (£180,000) in the name. Each were home to average sold prices well below [the national average](https://www.getagent.co.uk/house-prices) last year.

## Summary

If you’re lucky enough to live on one of our top three pancake-themed roads, [it might be time to get your house valued!](https://www.getagent.co.uk/online-valuation) You never know, you might be top of the stack.

![Colby CEO of GetAgent quote on pancake-themed properties](//images.ctfassets.net/us6n8ous4bz0/5ZY9WPBz8T4PcJZqoG6jXF/ecc95d148ac14f234c21f41025320286/Colby_Quote__2_-min.jpg)

Homebuyers flipping love pancake-themed properties.

Plate of pancakes topped with berries and syrup.

We did some research, and if you’re looking to sell on one of the country’s pancake-themed roads, you could be left with a particularly sweet taste.

Homebuyers flipping love pancake-themed properties

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