Rightmove Price Index - What It Means For Sussex Sellers this November
October’s Rightmove Index points to a steady market with more choice for buyers and solid demand keeping moves on track across the UK.
October usually brings a lift after the summer slowdown, but this year the rise has been more of a gentle nudge than a bounce. The national average asking price edged up by 0.3 percent this month to £371,422, which is well below the ten year October norm of 1.1 percent. With more property available than at any point in the last decade, buyers have plenty to choose from, so sellers are having to keep expectations realistic.
The numbers also look a little softer when compared with last year. September 2024 saw a boost in activity after the first Bank Rate cut in four years, along with early moves by buyers trying to dodge the April 2025 stamp duty rise. This year’s September market simply did not have the same tailwind behind it.
Even so, the wider picture is not gloomy. It is steady, measured and quietly resilient.
Buyer interest is still holding up
New buyer enquiries in September were down by 5 percent year on year, matched by a 5 percent fall in the number of new sellers coming to market. But when you zoom out and look at 2025 as a whole, there has been a modest lift in activity. Buyer demand is 2 percent higher than in 2024 so far, and both new listings and agreed sales are up by 5 percent across the year to date.
If anything, this tells us buyers are still out there and willing to move, but they are taking more time to weigh up their options. With so many homes on the market, pricing well from day one is more important than ever. Rightmove notes that homes which attract an enquiry on their first day of marketing are significantly more likely to secure a buyer quickly.
Regional divide becoming more pronounced
The small annual dip of 0.1 percent in national prices is being driven largely by London and the southern regions. All four regions in southern England are showing lower average asking prices than a year ago. London is down by 1.4 percent. By contrast, Scotland, Wales and the rest of England have each seen annual growth of at least 1 percent.
High stamp duty costs in the south, along with a noticeable rise in available stock and ongoing Budget speculation, are all contributing to a slightly cautious mood. Higher priced areas are naturally more exposed when additional buying costs come into play.
What this means for our local markets
Locally, we are seeing a similar pattern. Brighton, Lewes and Shoreham remain active but price sensitive. Homes that launch at the right level are finding their buyers, while anything pushed too far is sitting longer than expected. Increased choice means buyers are comparing more carefully, especially in the family home market.
At the same time, there is no sense of a major slowdown. Plenty of people still want to move for lifestyle reasons, schooling, downsizing or upsizing. The fundamentals remain sound, just without the spark that typically appears in autumn.
Looking ahead
There is a lot of noise around the forthcoming Budget, with talk of tax changes and updates to the home moving process. Rightmove has been vocal in its support for reforms that make moving easier and more affordable. Stamp duty remains a sticking point for many, and any improvement there would be welcomed across the industry.
Until then, we expect activity in Sussex to stay steady. Not surging, not stalling. Simply ticking along with motivated buyers and sellers getting on with their plans, provided pricing is sensible.
If you are thinking of making a move before the end of the year, now is a good time to have a chat with us. The market is calm, buyers are engaged, and there is still time to make something happen before Christmas.
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