Property News & Market Updates
October 2026
October has been a particularly encouraging month for AVARA Homes, with both barn conversions at Badgworth now under offer.
Both properties were launched earlier in the month, so it has been great to see them attract interest and agree sales. It’s been a pleasure to be involved in bringing these homes to market, and a positive step as AVARA Homes continues to establish itself across the area.
The property market in October
The latest figures suggest the market remains fairly mixed as we move towards the end of the year.
Rightmove reported that average asking prices for newly listed properties increased by 1% in October, although they remain slightly below where they were a year ago.
Zoopla's latest figures show that the number of homes available to buyers is now 7% higher than a year ago, while sales agreed are 7% lower. This reflects a market where buyers are still active, but are being more selective about the properties they choose.
There is certainly activity out there, as our own experience this month demonstrates. However, the national figures only tell part of the story, and individual properties can perform very differently depending on their location, condition, price and appeal.
The Autumn Budget
The Chancellor delivered the Autumn Budget on 28 October, with several announcements relating to housing and homeownership.
One of the main measures was the introduction of the new Your First Home scheme, which will offer eligible first-time buyers a 20% government equity loan, with the aim of helping around 70,000 households onto the property ladder.
There was also additional funding announced for affordable housing, alongside plans for a new First Time Buyer ISA from 2029.
It remains to be seen how much difference these measures will make to the wider property market, but anything that helps more people achieve home ownership is worth watching.
Out and about locally
One of the most enjoyable parts of running AVARA Homes has been getting out and about, meeting people and having conversations about property.
I've really enjoyed the opportunity to offer advice to local homeowners, whether they're thinking about moving soon, considering their options for next year or simply curious about the value of their home.
Not everyone is looking to move immediately, and I don't think they need to be. Sometimes it's just helpful to understand the market, have a few questions answered and know what options might be available further down the line.
That's very much what I want AVARA Homes to be about: approachable, straightforward advice, without any pressure.
A couple of new properties
September has also seen two new properties come to the market through AVARAhomes.
The first was Bramley Place in Regil, a lovely family home which came to the market earlier in the month.
More recently, I’ve also brought a new semi-detached barn conversion in Badgworth to the market. It's a completely different type of property, with a rural setting and a good amount of land, and is due to be completed next year.
I always enjoy having a mixture of properties to work with, and these two are a good example of the variety of homes we have across this part of Somerset.
September 2026
September has brought a little more activity back into the property market following the quieter summer months, although buyers are still being fairly careful about what they buy and what they are prepared to pay.
Rightmove reported a 0.7% rise in average asking prices for newly listed homes in September - the first monthly increase since May. However, prices remain 0.8% below this time last year, while buyer enquiries are still lower than they were a year ago.
The latest figures from Zoopla tell a similar story. There are around 5% more homes available for buyers to choose from compared with a year ago, while the number of sales being agreed is 9% lower. Mortgage rates have also risen, with the typical rate now around 5.2%.
So, while there are still plenty of people looking to move, buyers have more choice and are taking their time. For sellers, I think that makes getting the price right from the beginning particularly important.
Looking ahead to October
I think the market going into October is likely to remain fairly steady. There are buyers out there, but they have plenty of choice and are generally taking a little longer to make decisions.
For anyone thinking about selling, that doesn't necessarily mean waiting for the market to change. It simply means understanding where your property sits within the local market and making sure it is presented and priced accordingly.
If you're considering a move, whether that's soon or further down the line, I'm always happy to have an informal chat about the market and what your options might look like.
August 2026
As August draws to a close, I thought it was a good time to take a look at what we've seen in the property market over the summer and, perhaps more importantly, what September might bring.
August is traditionally a quieter month for the property market, and this year has certainly felt that way.
With the school holidays in full swing, many families are away, while others understandably don't want to spend their summer viewing houses with the children in tow. There are still buyers looking, but there tends to be less urgency and fewer people ready to make a decision.
A price-sensitive market
The wider market remains price-sensitive, although there are some encouraging signs.
Nationwide's latest figures show UK house prices increased by 0.2% in August, leaving prices 1.6% higher than a year ago. However, overall market activity remains relatively subdued.
Locally, the picture is mixed, which is exactly why looking at the individual property rather than simply relying on a headline figure is so important.
In Cheddar, the average sold price over the last year is currently around £354,000, with prices approximately 2% lower than the previous year. Detached properties have averaged around £467,000, compared with around £299,000 for semi-detached properties and £222,000 for terraced homes.
In Axbridge, the average sold price is currently around £370,000. Recent data shows a stronger year-on-year position, although Axbridge has a much smaller number of transactions than a larger town, so individual sales can have a significant effect on the figures.
For sellers, I think the message is fairly straightforward:
Pricing correctly from the outset matters.
Buyers have plenty of choice and are taking their time. A well-presented property at a realistic price is much more likely to attract attention than one which starts too ambitiously and then relies on price reductions later.
Looking ahead to September
September is usually a noticeably busier period for the property market.
As the schools go back and holidays come to an end, people return to their normal routines and those who have been thinking about moving often start taking action.
There are already some encouraging signs nationally, with recent data showing increased levels of people searching for property. That gives us reason to be optimistic that we may see the usual autumn increase in activity as we move into September.
I'm hopeful we'll see the same here across Cheddar, Axbridge and the surrounding villages.
For anyone considering selling this autumn, now is actually a good time to start thinking about it rather than waiting until the market becomes busy.
Getting the presentation, photography, marketing and pricing right before the autumn market gets into full swing can put a property in a much stronger position.
A new chapter for AVARA Homes
August has also been an important month for me personally, as AVARA Homes officially launched in Cheddar and the surrounding villages.
We've now brought our first property to market, we're live on Rightmove, our website is up and running, and AVARA is beginning to establish itself locally.
It's still very early days, but I'm looking forward to building the business one property at a time and, most importantly, providing the kind of personal service that an independent estate agency should be able to offer.
If you're considering a move this autumn, or simply curious about what your home could be worth in the current market, I'd be very happy to have a conversation.
Scott Higgins
Founder, AVARA Homes
scott@avarahomes.uk
07716 393167