Is now a good time to buy a house? If you’ve been sitting on the fence, watching mortgage rates and wondering whether to wait a little longer, you’re in good company. Across Kent, Sussex and Surrey, we’re talking to buyers every week who are asking exactly the same question.
The honest answer is that for many people, now is a better time to buy than it has been for several years. Here’s why.
For the latest figures and what we’re seeing this season, read our autumn property market update.
Is Now a Good Time to Buy a House? Understanding the Current Market
The market that buyers are navigating today looks very different from the one that existed in 2021 and 2022. During that period, demand was extraordinarily high, properties were selling within days of listing, and buyers were routinely offering over asking price just to secure something. It was a stressful, pressured environment that didn’t always lead to good decisions.
What we have now is more measured. According to the latest Rightmove House Price Index, average asking prices are down 0.9% year on year – meaning buyers are starting from a more favourable position than they were twelve months ago. Wages are up 3.9% annually. And the number of homes available for sale is at its highest level for this time of year in over a decade.
Yes, mortgage rates have risen in recent weeks due to wider economic uncertainty. But the data shows that buyers with genuine housing needs are still moving – and the conditions for making a considered, well-informed purchase are better than they’ve been in some time.
More Choice Means Better Decisions
One of the most significant shifts in the current market is the increase in available stock. There are simply more properties to choose from right now than there were during the peak years – and that has a meaningful impact on the quality of decision you can make as a buyer.
During the frantic market of 2021-22, buyers often had to make snap decisions on properties they’d seen once, under pressure from competing offers. Many people bought homes they weren’t entirely sure about simply because they felt they had no other option.
That pressure has largely gone. You can take your time, see a property twice, ask more questions, think carefully about whether it’s the right home for your circumstances. That’s how significant financial decisions should be made.
Buying a House in the Current Market – Room to Negotiate
Alongside more choice comes something else that buyers haven’t had for a while – negotiating room. Sellers in today’s market are generally more realistic about pricing than they were at the peak, and the days of every property attracting multiple offers above asking price are largely behind us.
This doesn’t mean vendors are desperate or that you should expect to buy significantly below market value. But it does mean that sensible, evidence-based offers are being considered – and that buyers who are well-prepared and able to move are in a strong position.
As an employee-owned business, our agents across all five offices have a genuine stake in finding you the right property at the right price – not simply in completing a transaction. That changes the quality of advice you receive.
What About Mortgage Rates?
It would be dishonest not to address this directly. Mortgage rates are higher than they were two years ago, and that does affect affordability for many buyers. This is a real consideration and shouldn’t be dismissed.
However, context matters. The Financial Conduct Authority’s recent review of lending criteria means many buyers are now able to borrow more than they previously could. Average earnings growth is outpacing house price growth for the first time in years. And for those buying with a meaningful deposit, the range of products available remains competitive.
The right mortgage advice is essential in the current environment. We’d always recommend speaking to an independent broker who can assess your specific circumstances before making any decisions.
When Is the Right Time to Buy a Home?
The honest answer is that there is no perfect time to buy a house – there is only the right time for you. The market will always have a cycle. Rates will change. Prices will move. But if your circumstances, your life and your finances are telling you it’s time to move, that rarely changes because of what the market is doing nationally.
What good advice can do is make sure you approach your search with clear eyes – understanding what you can realistically afford, what the genuine value of a property is, and what the local market in your area is actually doing. That’s local knowledge, not a national headline.
What We’d Suggest
If you’ve been wondering whether now is a good time to buy a house but holding back, the most useful thing you can do is have a conversation with your local office. Not a commitment – just a conversation about what’s available, what’s realistic, and what the process actually looks like from here.
Across our five offices in Tunbridge Wells, Haywards Heath, Pulborough, Battle and Surrey Hills, our teams are helping buyers navigate this market every day. As an employee-owned business, every member of our team has a genuine stake in getting your outcome right – not just getting a sale over the line.
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