Many homeowners are waiting for autumn, lower mortgage rates or a more certain market before selling. But when everyone waits for the same moment, competition can arrive with them. Sometimes moving before the crowd creates the better opportunity.

Mortgage rates remain above 5% on average, but the picture is more nuanced than the headline suggests. If you are buying, selling or simply wondering whether to wait, here is what the latest mortgage market actually means for your next move.

September has brought the first monthly asking price rise since May, but the headline only tells half the story. Prices are up 0.7%, sellers face a 12 year high in competition and mortgage rates have risen again. Here is what the latest Rightmove data actually means for your move.

Getting an offer feels like the finish line. It isn’t. Around 1 in 3 transactions fall through and the average purchase takes around 120 days after an offer is accepted. Here is what homeowners can do before and after selling to give their move the strongest chance of completing.