September 2025: the autumn market wakes up

September's here, schools are back, and the property market is waking up again.

Does the market wake up in September?

Yes, it often does. After the summer lull, buyer activity tends to ramp up in September as families settle back into routines. Listing and transaction volumes frequently rise in this early autumn window.

If you're looking to buy, this could be a sweet spot: more buyers start seriously looking, more homes come to market, and motivated sellers may price more competitively to make the most of renewed activity.

What's actually happening

• Asking prices dipped for the third consecutive month in August, down about 1.3%, reflecting a rise in price reductions as summer cooled off.
• Good news: mortgage approvals hit a six month high in July, showing buyer confidence is returning.
• Experts suggest a modest recovery in prices may follow, helped by easing rates, improved affordability and seasonal momentum.

Why this matters to you

• There will be more properties to choose from, which means a better chance of finding the right home and possibly negotiating better terms.
• Rate relief continues. With rates at a 2.5 year low, your buying power today is stronger than it has been in quite some time.