The UK housing market remained subdued in August, with house prices edging up by 0.2% over the month and annual growth sitting at 1.6%, according to Nationwide's latest House Price Index.

If moving is starting to feel more realistic, September is a useful time to prepare. Understanding your budget, priorities and local property search now could make things much easier when the right home appears.

Having an offer accepted on a property should feel like a major milestone. But getting from “offer accepted” to “completion” can sometimes feel like a very different story. New research suggests that conveyancing is now seen by many homebuyers as one of the biggest obstacles to a smooth property transaction — even more so than property chains.

The UK property market is showing signs of changing, with more family homes becoming affordable to households on average incomes. However, rising mortgage rates and ongoing financial uncertainty continue to influence how buyers, sellers and landlords approach their next move.