Property investment stats for Swansea, Wales

• Strong rental yields, with an average of 6.6% and a top-performing district at 7.9%, make Swansea attractive for buy-to-let investors.
• The large student population (in the 96th percentile) and high share of single occupier households (in the 88th percentile) support consistent rental demand throughout the year.
• Affordability is a key advantage, with a price-to-income ratio of 4.1 and median price per square foot at £203 per sq ft, making entry costs lower than many other UK cities.

• The unemployment rate is high (in the 86th percentile), which could impact tenant stability and long-term capital growth.
• The market is heavily reliant on students and younger renters; a shift in university demand or local demographics could affect occupancy rates.
• Families and couples are underrepresented, which may limit demand for larger homes or long-term tenancies.

Swansea's property market looks set to remain lively, especially for investors focused on student and young professional tenants. With capital growth over the past year of 1.9% and a three-year annualised growth rate of 3.6%, capital appreciation has been steady rather than spectacular, but rental yields continue to outperform many other UK cities.

Liquidity should hold up well, given the current median days on market of 53 days and annual sales of 1,820, but investors should keep an eye on local employment trends. Affordability is likely to support ongoing demand, and the ability to negotiate on price (with a median discount of £3,000 (the typical achieved discount)) adds to buyer confidence. While the market is not without risks, especially given its reliance on the student sector, the fundamentals for buy-to-let remain strong over the next 12 months.