Selby’s Love Affair with Bungalows
For much of the last two decades, bungalows have quietly slipped out of fashion. Overshadowed by those glossy new build developments, three storey townhouses and open plan ‘modern living’, they became seen by many as somewhere only your granny lives rather than an aspirational home move. Yet while much of the property market newspaper headlines have been chasing trends, something rather different has been happening beneath the surface in the Selby property market with those single storey dwellings called bungalows.
Today, bungalows are starting to become some of the most sought after homes in the local Selby property market, attracting interest from a far wider range of buyers than many people might expect. Downsizers in their 60s and 70s remain a major part of the market, of course, yet increasingly buyers in their late 40s and 50s are also competing for these homes. What was once considered ‘later life housing’ is now increasingly viewed as smart long-term living for younger families.
So, let us look at the numbers for Selby.
Over the last two years, 345 Selby bungalows came onto the market, accounting for 12.6% of all property listings in the area
(Higher than the national average, where 7.62% of homes listed were bungalows).
(Selby YO8).
During the same period, 243 Selby bungalows sold and completed, achieving an average sale price of £262,018.
More revealing, however, was the price per square foot buyers were prepared to pay. Selby bungalows achieved an average of £306 per square foot, compared to £244 per square foot for houses and flats over the same timeframe. In a nutshell, buyers are willing to pay a considerable premium for the right single storey home.
Part of the appeal is obvious. Bungalows offer something many modern homes increasingly struggle to provide, simplicity. No stairs, practical layouts, generous gardens, easier accessibility and often significantly more privacy than newer housing developments. In an age where many homes are built taller, narrower and closer together, the bungalow feels refreshingly spacious and straightforward.
There is also the question of future proofing. Many buyers are no longer simply purchasing for their current lifestyle. They are thinking ten, twenty or even thirty years ahead. A well-located Selby bungalow allows homeowners to remain independent and comfortable later in life without needing another disruptive move further down the line. Increasingly, I see Selby couples in their 50s, where the children have flown the nest, recognising that good housing decisions are often about longevity rather than fashion and leaving their empty 4 bed home for a smaller 2 bed bungalow in the town.
Post pandemic lifestyle changes have played a role in this shift, as homeowners have become far more aware of how they actually use their homes. Outdoor space, natural light, quieter surroundings and flexible living arrangements now carry far greater weight in purchasing decisions. Many bungalows, particularly those built in established residential areas of Selby, naturally provide exactly those qualities.
Then there is the issue of scarcity, which perhaps underpins the market more than anything else. Only 1,505 new bungalows were built across the UK in 2025, accounting for only 1.3% of new homes built. The reason is housebuilders generally prioritise higher density developments because they maximise profitability and land use. Bungalows simply take up too much land to make it profitable. As a result, the existing number of bungalows has become increasingly more valuable because replacement supply remains so limited.
This shortage is particularly noticeable in Selby, where many bungalows occupy mature residential plots that would be difficult to replicate in today’s planning environment. Wide frontages, larger gardens and generous spacing between homes are increasingly rare commodities within modern housing developments. Buyers recognise this scarcity, and the market reflects it accordingly.
So, how saleable are bungalows?
In Selby, 73.64% of bungalows that left estate agents’ books in the last 2 years went on to successfully sell and complete
That compares with 63.03% for Selby houses and 66.13% for Selby flats.
Nationally, bungalows also outperform many other property types, reinforcing the view that correctly priced single storey homes continue to attract committed buyers.
However, scarcity alone does not guarantee success. The strategy of pricing your Selby bungalow remains critical. Some Selby bungalow owners assume limited supply automatically means buyers will pay any figure being asked. Yet today’s buyers remain highly price sensitive and exceptionally well informed. The strongest results are still achieved by sellers who price realistically from the outset and position their property carefully within the market (remember, even though 73.64% of bungalows sold, it still meant 26.36% of Selby bungalows didn’t sell!).
The reality is that bungalows now appeal to multiple buyer groups simultaneously. Mature Selby downsizers see convenience and comfort, whilst families often see flexibility and safety. Meanwhile, middle aged Selby professionals increasingly view them as sensible long-term homes that combine practicality with lifestyle quality. Finally, more and more Selby buy-to-let landlords are seeing them as a good choice for investment.
What is clear, though, is this. Selby’s love affair with bungalows was never simply a passing phase. Quietly and steadily, these single storey homes have re-established themselves as one of the town’s most desirable property types. In a market where space, privacy and practicality are becoming ever more valuable, the humble bungalow is no longer overlooked. If anything, it may only just be getting started.
P.S. Finally, for those who have ever wondered where the word “bungalow” actually comes from, it has nothing to do with builders being told to “bung a low roof on it”, however amusing that explanation may be. The term originates from British India in the late 18th century/early 19th century, where the British sailors took over the single storey homes in the ports they docked into, which were traditionally occupied by people from Bengal. These homes were known as “Bangla” houses. Over time, the word evolved into “bungalow”, and the rest, as they say, is ‘property’ history.