Room for specialist lenders to be 'optimistic' about property auction market – Thompson

According to Iamproperty, between Q2 2024 and Q2 2025, the number of properties sold through its own online auction soared 15% from 2,714 to 3,130. But this isn’t a trend only emerging in the past year.

The same data demonstrates that this increase has a long tail, with a 76% increase since Q2 2022, when just 1,779 properties were sold at auction online.

This data reinforces what we and Together Money have seen in the auctions market in recent years. It also strongly suggests that the opportunity for specialist lenders in this market to provide fast finance is growing.

But, as with anything when discussing one part of the market, it is important to acknowledge that property auctions – online or in person – are not insulated from the sentiment in the wider market.

This is why it is important that outside of our own segment of the industry, Bank of England data suggests there is still potential for growth. In July, mortgage approvals rose for a third consecutive month. This is despite an expected peak and plummet after the stamp duty holiday ended.

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At the same time, consumer credit borrowing also edged up, which shows tentative improvements in consumer confidence – potentially driven by positive stats that mortgage arrears and direct debit rejections fell for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Does this suggest more consumers have been able to get a handle on their finances? And in this climate, is the role of property auctions and specialist lenders to demonstrate to consumers – not just landlords and investors – that auction can be a real route to homeownership?

Optimism breeds or seeks out more optimism. And if auctions can show they provide one of the most transparent, efficient and reliable routes to buying and selling property and make it easy for consumers, then there is a huge opportunity for all involved.

Digitalisation – including the rise of online catalogues, virtual tours and livestream bidding – has made auctions more accessible and transparent than ever before. For instance, at a recent auction, someone bid and bought a home while standing in a supermarket during their weekly shop.

A transparent finance partnership is also vital to making this work and bringing greater confidence to entering the auction room – in person or online. Auctions, partnering alongside estate agents, asset managers and introducers, have been key to growth so far, and the same needs to apply going forward.

There are reasons to be optimistic and areas for opportunity in property, especially as the trend of selling and buying at auction continues to grow. In this environment, specialist lenders have the chance to not only benefit, but also become part of the catalyst for growth in this area and help consumers become homeowners.