November 2026 Property Market Comment

01 Nov 2026

November 2026 Property Market Comment

If you only read the headlines, you would think the property market has packed up for winter and kicked in the teeth with the Bank of England quarter percent rise in the base rate earlier this month.

But from where we sit, on the phones, with buyers and at property viewings, the picture is calmer than the noise suggests. Property is still selling. It’s just a matter of perspective when you consider that over a million sales have been agreed across the UK so far this year, which is about 4% more than the pre-Covid norm.

Sure, asking prices are almost exactly where they were a year ago. They may be flat, but they are certainly not falling off a cliff. And a steady market like this, with clear rules, and plenty of choice is not a bad place to make a move, whether you’re buying or selling.

So the market hasn't stopped; it has simply stopped forgiving optimistic pricing. This is proven by Rightmove, who tell us that property which is priced correctly from day one, on average, finds a buyer in about 39 days, but those that need a reduction take about 119 days - three times longer! And of those properties that were reduced, they had to take a further reduction of 1.8% off their already-reduced asking price, whereas homes that are priced correctly often achieve their asking price, or just a smidgeon below.

The one thing that doesn't work in this market is "let's try it high and see, we can always come down”. It doesn’t work that way. In October, more homes were withdrawn unsold than exchanged – this is the first time this has happened. As a national statistic, you are more likely to withdraw than you are to sell (although our success rate is way higher than that). If you genuinely want to move house, you’ve got to get that bit right. And we can certainly help you there. We know what we’re talking about, and we don’t mince our words.

One last thing. If you are planning to sell and then buy again, arguably, this is the best time of year to do it and market your property. Many of the properties that currently compete with yours, will be withdrawn by sellers who think that it might be best to wait until the new year, or even the spring. Don’t fall into that trap yourself. The hottest buyers don’t give up over Christmas. If we can get you under offer by then, then you’d be in such a strong position - you’d have the pick of properties that come to market in the new year, and you’d be well advanced with your conveyancing too.

Most people move for life reasons, not market reasons: a new job, a growing family, a smaller garden, financial or relationship changes. In a steady market, the decision comes down to whether the move works for you. And that’s what excites us – helping people move.

We’d love to help you move too. So whether you are buying or selling, why not pick up the phone and call us today. You might be pleasantly surprised.