Whether you’re buying or selling you will always want to know how quickly you need to move. A study by comparison website, Compare the Market, reveals the top 20 easiest locations in which to buy a property. It factors in the UK’s fastest moving cities when it comes to house sales, combined with factors such as the number of properties per 100,000 people, the number of estate agencies per 100,000 people, and how quickly people move on.

Homes in this thriving cosmopolitan city in the heart of Yorkshire stay on the market for a manageable 80 days before going under offer. Residents typically stay in the same property for 4.4 years so the city has a reasonably fast turnaround if you want to find your dream home. There are 410 properties to choose from – and 48 estate agencies – per 100,000 people in the city.

Moving further south, properties in Birmingham also take 80 days to go under offer with owners moving after 3.8 years. But there are fewer homes to choose from with 312 properties served by 45 estate agencies.

This historic Scottish city has been labelled a start-up haven – most likely because office space costs half of what it costs in London. Perhaps that’s why homes are snapped up much faster taking just 53 days before going under offer. Budding entrepreneurs will have fewer places to choose from than any other city with just 190 properties (the smallest number in the study) and only 28 estate agencies.

Back across the border in Leicester there is plenty of time to browse for a new home where properties spend 79 days on the market before going under offer. Choose from 630 properties via 60 estate agencies.

Buyers move fast in Coventry with properties snapped up in just 35 days. The fact that homeowners typically stay in the same property for 13 years might be behind the rush. The good news is that there are 123 estate agents to help with your search.

This city at the mouth of the River Wear is swimming with estate agents too – there are 113 per 100,000 people. Properties take a more leisurely 70 days to sell so there’s time to browse for the perfect pad. There are a promising 560 properties to choose from.

Pace of property sales are similar in Derby where properties go under offer after 69 days via just 66 estate agents. There are plenty to discover with 546 properties.

Like buyers in Coventry, house-hunters move fast in Peterborough with properties snapped up in just 35 days. Here, homeowners typically stay in the same property for 12 years so buyers will need to be quick off the mark to bag their ideal home.

Properties take a leisurely 108 days on the market before going under offer thanks to a massive 1,444 properties to choose from and 85 estate agencies.

There’s no mad dash in Sheffield where homes take 71 days to go under offer. There’s limited choice with 382 properties to choose from –one of the fewest in the study – via 43 estate agencies.

House hunters eager to find a home in this waterfront city on the south coast are spoiled for choice when it comes to estate agents – there’s a vast selection at 188 – the highest number in the study. In Portsmouth, homes take 67 days to go under offer.

Properties take slightly less time to sell in Bradford, averaging at 63 days. Homeowners typically stay in the same property for 4.7 years so there may be a small wait for your ideal property. There’s a good choice of homes though with 452 properties to choose from, per 100,000 people in the city.

Buyers can take their time to find a home in Newcastle where homes take a lengthy 96 days on the market before going under offer. There are a whopping 931 properties to choose from and 106 estate agencies. There’s a quick turnaround too with homeowners typically moving after 2.7 years.

This Scottish gem was recently named the greenest UK city (in a study by Royal Mail). Perhaps that’s why homes take only 56 days to go under offer. There’s a reasonably fast turnaround with homeowners typically staying put for in the same property for 3.7 years.

The lure of the cathedral city's old-fashioned charm and thriving university means properties are snapped up after 63 days. Fast – but not too fast. There’s a healthy turnaround with homeowners moving after three years so plenty of opportunities to find a place to live.

Nottingham is popular with both students and workers, due to its Russell Group university and a powerful local economy. Current owners haven’t lived there long at 2.8 years on average, so there’s a good chance of fast turnover. There are a promising 886 properties to choose from via 79 estate agencies per 100,000 people in the city.

Manchester is one of the UK’s biggest business and living areas. Properties in this Northern Powerhouse are likely to come around quickly – with the shortest average time inhabited by their current owners, at only 2.2 years.

Living on the south coast is a popular pastime. In Southampton properties go in the blink of an eye, being only on the market for an average of 40 days. Current residents have lived there for seven years on average, too – meaning the properties can stay locked away for a bit. Keep close to agents to know when property is coming on the market.

Buying in this cosmopolitan city is a cinch. Properties spend 51 days on the market before going under offer. With properties only owned by their current owners for 2.5 years on average, new buyers need to move quickly to lock a place down.

Hailed as the easiest city for buyers to snap up their dream home, Canterbury is one of the most popular tourist cities in the UK, thanks to its history and beauty. But it’s also a great place to live, so the fact that properties sell on average in 28 days, the lowest in the country, is vital info for potential inhabitants. Read more: What first-time buyers will pay across the UK