Asking price evidence guide
Asking price vs sold price in the UK
An asking price is what a seller advertises. A sold price is what a buyer actually paid when a completed transaction was registered. UK House Prices uses HM Land Registry sold-price evidence through June 2026 to help buyers, sellers and researchers compare listings with real historical transactions.
The practical difference
| Measure | What it means | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Asking price | The advertised listing price. | Use it as the seller-side starting point. |
| Sold price | The registered completed transaction price. | Use it as factual local evidence. |
| Median sold price | The middle sale in a local sample. | Use it to reduce skew from unusual high-value sales. |
| Average sold price | The mean of registered sales. | Use it with caution when the median is very different. |
How to compare a listing with sold prices
- 1. Start with the local page. Check the postcode, town, district or postcode area for average, median and transaction count.
- 2. Prefer median where available. Median helps avoid reading too much into one unusually expensive or cheap sale.
- 3. Check sample quality. A location with thousands of registered sales gives stronger evidence than a postcode with only a few records.
- 4. Treat the result as evidence, not a valuation. Sold-price data does not know the condition, exact size or urgency of the current listing.
Important limitation
This guide and the checker summarise historical sold-price evidence. They are not property valuations, offer recommendations, forecasts or financial advice.
Frequently asked questions
Is an asking price the same as market value?
No. An asking price is the seller or agent listing price. Sold-price evidence records completed historical transactions and is usually a stronger factual benchmark.
Why can asking prices be higher than sold prices?
Sellers may leave room for negotiation, agents may test demand, and listings may reflect property condition or scarcity that is not visible in area averages.
Can sold prices tell me exactly what to offer?
No. Sold prices help you understand local evidence, but they do not adjust for the exact property, condition, lease, floor area or current competition.