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Moving When The Market Lacks Confidence

Posted on: 5 May, 2025

What to do when the property market lacks confidence?

If you’re thinking about selling your home — or buying one — you might be wondering: Is now the right time? Recent surveys show that confidence in the housing market has dipped slightly, but don’t worry — there are still plenty of reasons to stay optimistic and strategic about your next move.

Understanding Today’s Market Mood

Recent research found that only about 17% of people currently feel it’s a good time to buy a home — a slight drop from earlier this year. Many potential buyers are feeling cautious, especially as mortgage affordability remains a major hurdle. With higher upfront costs like deposits and stamp duty, it’s understandable that some people are feeling hesitant.

But here’s the positive side: opportunity often comes during times of uncertainty. If you’re a homeowner considering selling, you’re still in a strong position. Demand for homes hasn’t disappeared — in fact, with house prices continuing to grow steadily at about 4% annually, many buyers are still eager to find the right property.

For Potential Sellers: What You Should Know

Stable Home Prices: Home values are expected to keep rising over the next year, with nearly half of people surveyed anticipating further price increases. That’s good news if you’re planning to sell, as it means you can still achieve a strong return on your investment.

Serious Buyers are Out There: Even though fewer people are looking to buy on impulse, those who are searching are highly motivated. They’re carefully planning their move, making them more likely to be serious, committed buyers.

Preparation is Key: With buyers facing tighter budgets, presenting your home at its best — through small improvements, competitive pricing, and professional marketing — can make a big difference.

For Potential Buyers: How to Move Forward

Rates Are Trending Down: While affordability remains a challenge, mortgage rates have been easing following recent interest rate cuts — and more reductions may be on the horizon. This could open up better opportunities for locking in a more favorable mortgage soon.

More Choices Ahead: With plans to increase housing supply and ongoing changes to planning laws, more homes are expected to come onto the market. That means buyers may soon have more options at more accessible prices.

Plan Smart, Move Smart: First-time buyers, in particular, should focus on building a strong savings plan, exploring government-backed schemes, and speaking to lenders early. Financial guidance can also help maximise your buying potential.

Looking to the Future

While some barriers remain, change is happening. More homes are expected to be built, lending rules are under review to help first-time buyers, and further action is being taken to improve affordability.

For sellers, this means a market that remains resilient, with demand steady and prices stable. For buyers, this is a time to prepare — with smart planning, patience, and persistence, your dream of homeownership is still well within reach.

Above all, whether you’re selling or buying, the key is to stay informed, work with trusted professionals, and remember: in every market, there are opportunities — and with the right guidance, you can make the most of them.

Why Choose ADM Residential?

At ADM Residential, we are proud to be your trusted local estate agent in Huddersfield. Our years of experience, in-depth market knowledge, and personalised service make us the go-to choice for buying, selling, and letting property in the area.