Rightmove Price Index - What It Means For Sussex Sellers This September
Buyer activity has picked up this September, but sellers face plenty of competition. We look at what Rightmove’s latest figures mean across Sussex.
More buyers are looking, but sellers still face plenty of competition
September has brought a lift in activity after a quieter summer. Rightmove reports that the average asking price of a newly listed home rose by 0.7% this month, the first monthly rise since May.
That sounds positive, but it needs some context. Asking prices are still 0.8% below this time last year, and buyers have more homes to choose from than at any September in the past 12 years.
What’s happening with buyers?
More buyers are looking than in August, as you’d expect once the holidays are over. But enquiries are still 9% lower than a year ago, and the number of sales agreed is also down 9%.
Mortgage costs are part of the reason. Rightmove says the average two-year fixed rate has risen from 5.09% to 5.29% in a month. Buyers are watching their monthly payments closely, and many are taking longer to decide.
What does this mean for sellers in Sussex?
The national figures won’t tell you what your home is worth in Shoreham, Lewes or Brighton & Hove. They do reflect what we’re seeing locally: buyers are active, but they’re comparing properties carefully.
Rightmove says 56% of homes in the South East find a buyer. That makes the first asking price and the quality of the marketing particularly important. Starting too high can mean missing the buyers who are ready to move now, then having to reduce the price later.
We’d look at what has actually sold nearby, what you’d be competing with today, and where your home would sit in buyers’ search results before agreeing a launch price.
Is there still time to move this year?
Possibly, but we'd be careful about promising a Christmas move. Rightmove puts the average time to find a buyer at 64 days, with a further 150 days to complete.
If you’re thinking of selling, that doesn’t mean waiting until Spring. It means being clear about your timescale and getting the property, pricing and paperwork ready now. A low-key approach between now and Christmas may also suit sellers who want to test interest before a wider launch.
If you’d like an honest view of where your home sits in the current market, speak to our teams in Shoreham, Brighton or Lewes.
*Source: Rightmove House Price Index, 21 September 2026. The figures quoted are national or South East averages.*
