Beyond the Headlines: What This Autumn's Economy Actually Means for Your Move

If you've been holding off on a move because of what you're hearing about interest rates and the wider economy, you're not alone. The Bank of England held its base rate at 3.75% again in September, the sixth hold in a row, and a few lenders have nudged their fixed-rate mortgages up in response to global uncertainty rather than down. Inflation is forecast to tick up toward 3.4% by the end of the year. None of that makes for an easy headline if you're weighing up a move.

But the national story and the local one aren't the same story.

Here in East Dunbartonshire, house prices are up 10.2% over the past year, more than double the Scottish average of 4.4%, and among the strongest-performing areas in the country. Homes in Bearsden, Milngavie and the surrounding villages continue to attract serious interest from buyers who are looking for exactly what this area offers: good schools, easy commuting and homes with genuine character. Whatever the base rate is doing nationally, demand for well-presented family and larger homes here hasn't gone away.

What about the cost of buying higher up the market?

If you're trading up into a £400,000+ home, it's worth budgeting properly for Land and Buildings Transaction Tax. LBTT steps up to 10% on the portion of a purchase price between £325,001 and £750,000, so on a £450,000 home you're looking at a tax bill in the region of £18,000 to £19,000 before any additional dwelling costs. This isn't a new charge, and it clearly hasn't been holding this market back given the growth we're seeing, but it's a number worth having in front of you early rather than discovering it at missives stage.

What this means if you're thinking of selling

• Presentation counts for more, not less, in this market. With borrowing a little more expensive, buyers are being more selective about what they'll stretch for. A well-styled, well-photographed home still sells quickly and often above valuation; a poorly presented one sits.

• Pricing it right from day one avoids the stale-listing trap. 99% of the homes we sell go for within valuation range or above it, because we price to reflect real local demand rather than chase an optimistic figure that later needs correcting.

• Speed matters more when rates are higher. Our average time to find a buyer is around 40 days, one of the fastest of any agent in this market, which means less time for a listing to lose momentum while buyers watch rates.

• If you're buying as well as selling, plan the LBTT and any Additional Dwelling Supplement into your budget early, so it's a known figure rather than a late surprise.

The economy will keep making headlines between now and the end of the year. What actually matters is what's happening on your street, in your price bracket, with buyers who are genuinely active right now, and that picture continues to look strong. If you're weighing up whether now is the right time to move, we'd be glad to talk it through with you and give you an honest, up-to-date read on your own home. Book a complimentary valuation and we'll give you the real picture, not just the headline one.

Figures from the Bank of England, Revenue Scotland and regional market data, correct as of September 202