What will happen to house prices this year?

Buyers looking for a bargain may have more luck finding a motivated seller than waiting for house prices to tumble. I expect prices to be broadly flat by the end of the year, but there will be plenty of local variation and buyers have more negotiating power where homes have been sitting unsold.

If you need to sell, pricing realistically from the start is more likely to get people through the door than holding out for yesterday’s value. And for buyers, do not just look for reduced properties. Find out how long a home has been on the market and whether the seller is motivated, because that is often where the best negotiation starts.

This is a buyer's market, and the window to make the most of it is the next ten weeks, before the new-year rush. Nationwide says annual growth halved to 0.8% in September, Lloyds has prices flat on the year and Rightmove says stock is at a 12-year high. We are seeing sellers willing to negotiate, and much of the problem is unscrupulous agents overpricing homes just to win the listing. Those homes sit, then get cut. I expect prices to drift sideways until Christmas, with the Budget on 28 October adding nerves. Lenders have repriced fixed rates upwards and three Bank of England members voted for a rise, so 2027 looks flat at best. If you need to sell, ignore the agent who flatters you and price off sold evidence from day one. Buyers, get a mortgage agreed in principle, target homes that have sat for months and offer with confidence. Land Registry figures show London down 3.3% in a year while the North East is up 4.9%. A bargain only exists if you are ready to move when the seller blinks

I would expect house prices to be broadly flat to slightly softer by Christmas rather than suddenly falling off a cliff.

The bigger opportunity is negotiation. Buyers have more choice, mortgage costs are still painful and sellers who genuinely need to move cannot price as if it is still 2022.

If you are buying, look for properties that have been listed for a while, reduced already or where the seller has an onward move. That is where the bargaining power usually is.

If you need to sell, price for today’s market from day one. Chasing the market down with repeated reductions is usually worse.

Next year will depend heavily on mortgage rates and confidence.

Right now the North East has been one of the strongest regions, while London has been among the weakest.

A bargain is not the cheapest house. It is the right house bought from a motivated seller at the right price.

Negotiating £10,000 off a property is useful, but buyers still need to know what the mortgage will cost them each month.

I expect a subdued finish to the year, with local variation. I would be cautious about suggesting there is a fixed deadline for finding a bargain, or promising that next year will be cheaper.

For buyers, preparation puts you in a stronger position: understand your borrowing, have your deposit evidence ready and check comparable sold prices before making an offer. Leave room in your budget for repairs and unexpected costs.

For sellers who are buying again, the gap between the two property prices deserves as much attention as the sale price itself. Accepting a lower offer may still make financial sense if you can negotiate on your next home.

My advice is to work out the full cost of the move first. A purchase needs to remain affordable long after the satisfaction of securing a discount has worn off.

There is no reliable countdown to bagging a property bargain. A seller’s circumstances and the condition of the property can matter more than the month you buy.

Through Bridging Loan Directory’s reporting, we’ve seen how delayed sales and unfinished refurbishment work can complicate repayment plans and add borrowing costs. A discount on the purchase price is only part of the calculation: buyers also need to allow for repairs, finance and delays.

For sellers, a higher offer is worth examining alongside the buyer’s funding position and chain. For buyers, understanding why a property is discounted is more useful than assuming it must be good value.

I wouldn’t base a purchase on a confident prediction about December or next year. The stronger question is whether the property works for your needs and budget without relying on prices rising.

I don't see a significant change between now and the end of 2026. The budget is likely to be a Pandora's box of good and difficult news, but that won't necessarily change what is in the pipeline already. Mortgage rates will continue to bumble along at 5%, the property market will see some pick up soon with the new 'Your First Home' scheme looking positive for new build developments, but the bulk of the market will be pent-up demand from those waiting for the budget announcements - possibly less or no stamp duty? That will make a real change in dynamics. But in a low market is the ideal time for new buyers to take advantage of lower prices and a bit more choice than average. Even with higher mortgage rates, the cheaper prices can more than outweigh that extra monthly cost.

It's certainly a buyers market out there at the moment. Sellers need to be realistic about the value of their homes as hard as it might be to not get what you thought you might have done. But if you're moving up, play the same game and make a low offer, view it as 'cost to change' rather then be hung up about achieving a particular sale price

The post-pandemic buying frenzy in Cornwall is over with average prices broadly flat. Buyers now hold the upper hand, with real room to negotiate, while realistic sellers can still close quickly. Expect little movement before year-end, though motivated sellers open a narrow window for bargain hunters before mid-November. Selling? Drop the outdated peak pricing and target local owner-occupiers, not second-home buyers as the council tax surcharges and regulatory shifts have changed that market. Next year should bring better mortgage affordability and busier buyers, so today’s advantage won’t last. To land a bargain, target properties listed over 90 days, stay chain-free, look slightly inland from the coastal hotspots, or consider renovation projects. Growth is stronger in employment hubs like Falmouth and Truro; price adjustments bite hardest in entry-level areas like Camborne and holiday-let-heavy flats.