"Is now a good time to buy?" It's the question I'm asked more than any other. And it's almost always followed by, "I think I'll wait until things settle down."

I understand why. Interest rates, house prices, the headlines — it all makes sitting tight feel like the safe option. So here's an honest answer, without the sales spin.

"I'll wait until things settle down"

The trouble is, the market almost never rings a bell to tell you it's settled.

The Bank of England base rate has sat at 3.75% since December, with the next decision due on 30 July. Last time, two members of the committee actually voted to put rates up. Even the experts don't agree on what happens next — so waiting for certainty could mean waiting a very long time.

And while you wait, prices don't. The average UK home rose 3.8% in the last year — roughly £10,000 on a typical £270,000 property. A slightly lower rate later can easily be swallowed by a higher purchase price. Waiting has a cost too; it just doesn't send you an invoice.

"But aren't mortgage rates still high?"

They've come a long way down from the peak — and right now lenders are competing hard for business, cutting rates even when the Bank of England hasn't moved. The best fixed deals currently sit around 4.25%–4.4%.

There's a useful quirk in the market too: the gap between 2-year and 5-year fixed rates is unusually small at the moment, so the extra security of a longer fix is costing very little. A good broker will run both and show you the difference in plain numbers.

"What about my deposit, income or credit?"

This is usually the real reason people wait — and it's usually the most fixable. There are lenders offering low and no-deposit options, lenders that will lend five, six, even seven times income, and lenders comfortable with adverse credit. What feels like a brick wall is very often just the wrong lender.

So, is now the right time to buy?

Here's the honest version: nobody can time the market perfectly. Not brokers, not the banks, not the person on the news. What you can do is find out exactly where you stand — what you could borrow, what it would cost, and what to tidy up first.

And this is the part most people miss: even if you're six or twelve months away from buying, the best time to start is now. Getting mortgage-ready early is the single biggest thing you can do to buy well when the moment comes — and it costs nothing to get that clarity.

Book your free initial call, with no obligation, and we'll take a look at things for you. It takes two minutes to arrange and costs nothing.

Book in your free initial call by CLICKING HERE 0r call us on 01172 510544

Speak soon,

Philip