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Newspage Raw

Is the autumn property market flat this year after the Bank of England’s rate rise?

ended 08. November 2026

Autumn is traditionally one of the busiest times of year for buying and moving. But the Bank of England has raised Bank Rate to 4% and mortgage rates remain high. We want to hear from mortgage brokers and property experts about what you’re seeing on the ground right now.

Questions for Newspagers

  1. Is this autumn busier or quieter than a normal autumn for purchase enquiries and applications?
  2. How has the Bank of England’s rise to 4% changed what clients are doing: buying, waiting, or remortgaging instead?
  3. Are buyers pulling out of purchases, cutting their budgets or asking for lower offers because of higher mortgage rates?
  4. Are first-time buyers being hit harder than movers and remortgagers?
  5. What would you tell someone deciding whether to buy now or wait until the new year?

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3 responses from the Newspage community

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Tony RedondoVerified
Founder at Cosmos Currency Exchange
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Cornwall’s autumn property market has turned distinctly chilly since the Bank of England lifted rates to 4%. Activity was already quiet but is now moribund, lifestyle and second-home demand has slowed, and local buyers are taking longer to get from enquiry to application. What’s moving is driven by necessity: probate sales, relocations, family changes. Homeowners coming off low fixed rates are staying put, they’re busy with early remortgages and product transfers, not trading up. Fall-throughs remain low, but price discovery is brutal: overpriced homes get cut quickly, and active buyers are starting off with a bid 10% off the asking price. First-time buyers face punishing price-to-income ratios, yet sky-high rents keep them in the hunt. For anyone buying long term, a quiet market is a buyer’s market. You have the upper hand. Use it.
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Nouran MoustafaVerified
Practice Principal & IFA at Roxton Wealth
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The autumn property market feels increasingly like a battle between buyers who want to move and mortgage costs making them question whether they should.

With Bank Rate now at 4%, affordability remains the biggest obstacle. Buyers are reassessing budgets, negotiating harder and thinking twice before committing.

First-time buyers are particularly exposed because they often have smaller deposits and less financial flexibility. Existing homeowners face difficult decisions too, especially when moving means giving up a cheaper mortgage.

But I'd challenge the idea that waiting until January automatically means getting a better deal. Mortgage rates could fall, but they could also rise further.

My advice? Buy when the property is right, your finances are comfortable and you've got sufficient savings left after completion.

The biggest mistake isn't buying in a difficult market. It's stretching your finances to the absolute limit and hoping tomorrow's interest rates will rescue you.
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Stephen PerkinsVerified
Mortgage Broker and Managing Director at Yellow Brick Mortgages
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The property market was already subdued before the Bank of England raised rates, so I would not blame this week’s decision for suddenly putting buyers off. The 0.25% increase was widely expected and largely priced into fixed mortgage rates beforehand. The bigger danger is perception, with another rate-rise headline giving nervous buyers one more reason to wait.

For someone considering buying now, I would not automatically hold off until the new year. Buyers currently have more negotiating power in many areas and sellers increasingly need to be realistic on price. If you find the right property, can comfortably afford the mortgage and negotiate a sensible price, waiting for a dramatic improvement in January could achieve very little.