Market Comment Winter 25/26

Mixed feelings

With so many supposedly ‘waiting for the Budget’ to decide on their property plans, it was odd to see an October price-rise, with many agents reporting activity levels up during the closing period of Autumn in the Northamptonshire market. 

So what might be relevant for your Property Search? 

Rachel Johnston from Stacks Property Search has some Market Comment that you may consider relevant to your property plans going forward in Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire and East Oxfordshire.

“it has been an unpredictable year for the market as a whole, and generalisations have been less than helpful if you’ve been trying to decide on whether you are selling, buying or staying put.

The only message you can take from properties ‘sticking’ is that they have been priced incorrectly to date.  As Buying Agents, we are aware of properties that are being rested over winter, often with a view to a more realistic pricing strategy for 2026.  These are often some of the juiciest options that we snap up for clients in the run up to Christmas – often our busiest period of activity – when security of a commitment to a sale becomes a more attractive prospect for previously over-optimistic vendors 

Of course, you will most likely be buying and selling within the same market, so changes will appear at both ends of the spectrum, and the most common refrain from our clients is ‘I wish we’d done this sooner’, which may be a sput to action for you?

If you know you want to be in our areas, it only makes sense to bring us on board to early to help you get your eye in, and know your own mind, supported by our expertise, when ‘the one’ becomes available.

We’re still seeing the number of clients downsizing increasing, and we’re ideally positioned to ease the pain of leaving your beloved home of 30years with tailored support and local expertise, helping you work through your options, and take a positive step forwards,  rather than a gloomy step down!  The forecast American influx is definitely happening, and #SecretShire #Northamptonshire is becoming less of a ‘secret’ to them, as they realise the similarities with the Cotswolds, without the crowds and overpricing 😉  – hence the #Notswolds hashtag you might have seen!

Desirability stays the same as my last update.  Those that control their own view will be prioritised by some, whereas others may be able to capitalise on changes to planning and infrastructure plans and make some of the asset income-producing or benefit from likely growth.  Energy-efficiency will become ever-more attractive.

Despite uncertainty, life moves on and you need to be in the right property.  All in all, the fundamentals have not changed – do your research, buy best-in-class, and get on with the next phase in your lives.” 

Using the services of a Buying Agent like Rachel Johnston is more advisable than ever – learn more about how a Property Search Agent can get you ahead of the competition below.