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.

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.

The UK mortgage market is moving once again, with a number of major lenders increasing their mortgage rates as wholesale funding costs and swap rates rise. For anyone planning to buy, sell, remortgage or invest in property, this is an important development to keep an eye on.

The rental market is still growing, but the way properties are managed has changed. August is a useful time for landlords to review tenancies, rent processes and record-keeping.