Property market update · KA11 · KA12 · KA13

Irvine & Kilwinning

The North Ayrshire market — stock levels, sales agreed, and what's moving.

Free valuation →
Latest update July 2026

June’s figures point to relatively restricted resale stock across Irvine and Kilwinning, although the headline KA13 numbers initially tell a very different story.

KA11 saw fewer properties entering the market while sales agreed increased. KA12 produced the strongest measurable performance, with limited stock, more sales and a substantial reduction in selling time. In KA13, available stock rose sharply to 138 properties — however, 83 of these were identified as new-build plots marketed by Keepmoat and Persimmon. Once those are separated, the established Kilwinning market appears tighter than the headline figures suggest.


At a Glance

AreaAvailable stockNew instructionsSales agreedDays on market
KA1167212871
KA1266252757
KA13 — headline total138702767
KA13 — excluding identified new buildsApprox. 55Approx. 26

Irvine — KA11

MeasureMay 2026June 2026June 2025
Available stock746779
New instructions342129
Sales agreed222833
Days on market777173

KA11 had fewer homes available in June, with stock falling 9.5% from May and sitting 15.2% below June last year. The main reason was the reduction in new instructions — only 21 properties entered the market, compared with 34 in May. Meanwhile, sales agreed increased from 22 to 28, suggesting buyers were absorbing properties more quickly than new supply was being added. Average selling time also improved from 77 to 71 days.

For sellers, the lower level of competition is encouraging, but 71 days is not an exceptionally fast market. Buyers still appear willing to wait or negotiate where a property is priced too ambitiously. A well-presented home with a sensible launch price should benefit from the reduced stock, but sellers should not interpret limited supply as permission to ignore comparable evidence.


Irvine — KA12

MeasureMay 2026June 2026June 2025
Available stock686685
New instructions272539
Sales agreed242719
Days on market695772

KA12 produced the strongest overall set of figures during June. Available stock remained limited at 66 properties — 22.4% below June 2025. New instructions also remained subdued, while sales agreed increased from 24 in May to 27.

The most notable change was selling time. Properties securing buyers during June had spent an average of 57 days on the market, compared with 69 days in May and 72 days a year earlier.

No single month should be overstated, particularly because the type of properties selling can affect the average. However, lower stock, increased sales and faster selling times all point in the same direction. KA12 therefore offered the most supportive measurable conditions for sellers. Accurate pricing still matters, but buyers may need to act decisively when an attractive property comes onto the market.


Kilwinning — KA13

MeasureMay 2026June 2026June 2025
Available stock94138115
New instructions337055
Sales agreed202725
Days on market696758

On the surface, KA13 experienced a dramatic rise in supply — available stock increased by 46.8% in one month, while new instructions more than doubled. That headline needs important context.

Of the 138 available properties, Keepmoat accounted for 47 and Persimmon accounted for 36, giving a total of 83 identified new-build plots. The same developers accounted for 44 of June’s 70 new instructions.

Large housebuilders often advertise plots months before completion and leave them online until reserved. When a plot sells, it may simply be removed rather than recorded through the portal as a conventional sale agreed. This can inflate available stock and instruction figures while understating sales activity.

Removing the identified new-build listings leaves approximately 55 established properties available and around 26 resale instructions — much closer to the position in KA11 and KA12.

The new developments still matter because some buyers will compare a resale home with a new-build alternative. However, an established property is not necessarily competing directly with every one of the 138 listings. For KA13 sellers, the most relevant comparison is other properties of a similar type, location, size and price.


Comparing the Three Areas

Once the identified KA13 new builds are separated, available resale stock appears relatively tight across all three areas:

AreaAvailable or estimated resale stock
KA1167
KA1266
KA13 — excluding identified new buildsApprox. 55

KA12 had the strongest complete set of measurable figures, combining low stock, increased sales and the shortest selling time. KA11 also improved during June, although the reduction in stock was driven partly by a particularly low number of new instructions. KA13 is harder to compare directly because new-build marketing practices affect the headline data — the established market appears tight, but separate resale figures would be needed before a direct comparison with KA12.

The main lesson is that postcode totals require context. A spike in listings does not always mean large numbers of homeowners have decided to sell.


Seller’s Vision

Sellers across all three areas should benefit from relatively limited resale stock, but price and presentation still determine whether a property attracts early interest.

KA12 currently has the clearest sales momentum. KA11 sellers face fewer competing homes than a year ago. KA13 sellers should look beyond the headline stock total and focus on genuinely comparable resale properties and relevant new-build alternatives.

Buyers in Irvine may continue to find that suitable properties are limited — being financially prepared and having current mortgage advice can make a difference when the right home appears. Kilwinning buyers appear to have more choice, but a large proportion of that choice consists of new-build plots that may not be available for immediate occupation.


Landlord’s Desk

There are several legislative developments landlords should be aware of.

From 1 May 2026, landlords and letting agents in Scotland must not discriminate against prospective or existing tenants because they have children or receive benefits. Affordability checks are still permitted, but income from benefits must be considered and requirements such as guarantors or rent in advance must be applied fairly rather than used as a blanket exclusion.

Scotland’s new rent-control framework has also begun moving into its evidence-gathering stage. Since 1 April 2026, local authorities have been required to assess rent conditions and can request information from landlords and tenants. Their first reports are due by 31 May 2027. No North Ayrshire rent-control area has been confirmed simply because this assessment process has started. If an area is designated in future, applicable rent increases would generally be limited to CPI plus 1%, capped at 6%, including between tenancies.

Landlords should also begin thinking further ahead about energy efficiency. The Scottish Government has proposed a new EPC Heat Retention Rating and a minimum standard equivalent to band C, as far as reasonably possible. Under the current proposal, this would apply to new tenancies from 2028 and all private rented properties by the end of 2033. Reformed EPCs are expected from autumn 2026, but final regulations and detailed exemptions still need to be confirmed.

Further rights concerning pets, decorating rented homes and preventing rent increases within the first 12 months of a tenancy are contained in the Housing (Scotland) Act 2025, but commencement dates have not yet been set. Landlords should monitor these rather than changing procedures prematurely.

The practical message is to keep tenant-selection wording under review, maintain accurate rent and tenancy records, and consider likely energy-efficiency improvements when planning future refurbishment.


Outlook

The outlook remains reasonably supportive for correctly priced resale properties. KA11 and KA12 enter the summer with restricted stock. KA13’s headline supply may remain elevated while new-build plots continue to be marketed, so the resale figures will need to be monitored separately where possible.

A rise in summer listings could give buyers more choice, but there is currently little in these figures to suggest a broad oversupply of established homes.

Previous updates

Irvine & Kilwinning Property Market Update — June 2026 June 2026

Covering Irvine (KA11 & KA12) and Kilwinning (KA13).

This month the report expands slightly to include Kilwinning (KA13) alongside Irvine’s traditional postcode areas of KA11 and KA12. As always, the aim is to look beyond the headlines and understand what the numbers are actually telling us about the local property market.


Irvine — KA11

May 2026 Snapshot

MetricMay 2026vs May 2025vs Apr 2026
Available Stock74Down from 85Up from 61
New Instructions34Down from 51Up from 19
Sales Agreed22Down from 33Up from 20
Days on Market77Up from 70Up from 61

KA11 continues to show healthy activity levels, although the market appears more balanced than it was this time last year. The increase in stock and instructions compared to April suggests more homeowners are entering the market heading into summer. However, homes are generally taking longer to sell and agreed sales remain below 2025 levels.

Buyers are still active, but they are taking more time and becoming increasingly selective.


Irvine — KA12

May 2026 Snapshot

MetricMay 2026vs May 2025vs Apr 2026
Available Stock68Almost identical to 69Down slightly from 72
New Instructions27Up significantly from 18Down from 35
Sales Agreed24Down from 30Down from 29
Days on Market69Up from 64Up slightly from 67

KA12 remains relatively stable. Stock levels have barely changed year-on-year, which suggests the balance between supply and demand is fairly consistent. Sales agreed have softened compared to both last month and last year, while selling times have crept up slightly. This points towards a market where buyers still have confidence, but are being more cautious when committing.


Kilwinning — KA13

May 2026 Snapshot

MetricMay 2026vs May 2025vs Apr 2026
Available Stock94Down from 98Down from 108
New Instructions33Down from 38Down from 58
Sales Agreed20Down slightly from 23In line with 21
Days on Market69Up from 63Up from 65

Kilwinning appears to be moving into a more balanced phase after a particularly busy April. Available stock has reduced noticeably month-to-month, suggesting buyers are still absorbing properties coming to market. Fewer new listings and slightly lower agreed sales indicate a more measured pace compared to earlier in the spring. The increase in days on market mirrors a trend we’re seeing across Ayrshire.


Who’s Ahead? A Look Across All Three Areas

Looking purely at the May figures, no single area wins across every metric — but each is showing a different strength.

KA11 — Most Active Market. KA11 continues to generate the highest levels of market activity, with the strongest level of new instructions, the highest number of sales agreed, and an increase in stock compared to April. While homes are taking longer to sell than they were a year ago, KA11 currently feels like the busiest of the three markets.

KA12 — Most Balanced Market. KA12 remains remarkably steady. Stock levels are almost identical to this time last year and there haven’t been any dramatic swings in activity. For homeowners, that’s often a positive sign — markets that avoid sharp rises and falls tend to be easier to predict and navigate.

KA13 — Tightening Supply. Kilwinning is perhaps the most interesting market of the three. Available stock has fallen significantly since April while sales agreed have remained relatively steady. If that trend continues into the summer, Kilwinning could find itself with the strongest supply-and-demand balance across the three postcode areas.


Wider Economic Context

The wider UK property market continues to be influenced by uncertainty around inflation, interest rates and global events. The conflict involving Iran and concerns around energy prices have contributed to volatility in financial markets during recent months, which in turn has impacted mortgage pricing. While this hasn’t stopped the market, it does appear to be making buyers more cautious and value-conscious than they were during parts of 2024 and 2025.


Rental Market

The rental market across Irvine and Kilwinning remains extremely competitive. Demand for family homes, modernised flats, and well-presented rental properties continues to outstrip supply. Despite the softer sales market, tenant demand remains strong and rental stock remains relatively limited. Many landlords continue to face increasing costs and regulatory pressures, which is restricting the number of new rental properties entering the market. As a result, rental values across much of North Ayrshire remain well supported.


Outlook — Next 3–6 Months

  • Demand to remain stable through summer
  • Buyers to continue being selective and price-conscious
  • Well-presented homes to outperform the wider market
  • Rental demand to remain exceptionally strong
  • Selling times to remain longer than those seen during the post-pandemic boom years

Overall, the local market continues to look relatively healthy, but success increasingly comes down to pricing, presentation and launch strategy rather than simply listing a property online.

Thinking of selling or letting?

Understanding the local market makes a real difference. Get a free, no-obligation valuation from Brian — honest figures, straight advice.