Following its shortlisting for Residential Property Team of the Year at the Chambers High Net Worth Awards 2026, the Real Estate team at Maurice Turnor Gardner continues to advise on transactions at the top end of the prime central London market in conditions that require close attention and careful judgement.
At present, the market is active, but more measured. Transactions are still happening, although buyers are taking more time and approaching decisions with greater scrutiny than in previous years. There is less urgency and a stronger focus on value.
The change is being felt across the transaction process. Buyers’ advisers are raising a higher volume of enquiries and examining details more closely, even on deals that might previously have progressed more quickly. If you are involved in a transaction, you feel this very early on.
At the same time, momentum remains critical. In a slower market, transactions can easily lose traction if they are not carefully managed.
The balance has moved firmly in favour of buyers. That is the defining feature of the current market. Opportunities exist, but they often come with the expectation that pricing reflects current conditions. Many sellers, particularly those who acquired property in stronger markets, are reluctant to accept that adjustment. Do they sell now and accept a lower price, or hold and wait for conditions to improve?
As a result, a number are choosing to hold rather than sell unless there is a clear need.
This tension is shaping how deals are done. It is not uncommon to see well-informed buyers prepared to act decisively where value is clear, while others take a more cautious approach. For advisers, this creates a need to balance pace with detailed review, often under tight timelines.
There has also been a shift in the profile of active buyers. The domestic market is playing a more prominent role, alongside continued demand from US clients. Some international groups that were previously highly active are less visible in terms of new acquisitions, although many retain property in the UK and remain engaged over the longer term.
For teams working at this level of the market, the emphasis has shifted slightly. Alongside technical expertise, there is a greater need to maintain pace, manage expectations and keep all parties aligned. Transactions are still being completed at significant values and within tight timeframes, but this requires a more hands-on, responsive approach.
Looking ahead, there is little indication of a rapid shift in conditions. Interest rates and broader economic stability will continue to influence confidence, but for now, the expectation is that the current dynamic will remain.
For clients, clarity is increasingly the focus. Buyers who understand the market are finding opportunities, particularly where pricing reflects current conditions. Sellers, meanwhile, are making more deliberate decisions about when to transact.
From our perspective, the deals that complete are the ones where momentum is actively managed from day one. In that environment, experience of how deals behave in practice, rather than how the market appears in theory, is becoming more important than ever.
