Bournemoth Area, Market Update – September 2025
From David Slade – Slades Estate Agents in Christchurch, Southbourne, Highcliffe & Bransgore
As the summer holidays wind down and routines return, September is traditionally one of the liveliest months in the property calendar and 2025 is already living up to that across our offices in Christchurch, Southbourne, Highcliffe and Bransgore.. Sensible, realistic pricing plus improving affordability are drawing committed buyers and well-prepared sellers together, keeping chains moving and deals progressing.
Headlines at a Glance: Steady Pricing, Stronger Activity
Rightmove’s latest House Price Index points to a market that’s active and pragmatic. Average new-seller asking prices rose by 0.4% month-on-month, yet remain 0.1% below this time last year after several months of muted growth. Crucially, sales agreed are 4% ahead of last year for the same period.
Regionally, momentum in the South of England is +3% year-on-year versus +5% across the rest of Great Britain, still a solid backdrop for well-priced homes along our coastline and in our New Forest fringe villages.
Affordability Tailwinds: Mortgage Rates Ease Again
For buyers using finance, the affordability picture continues to improve. Rightmove’s Mortgage Tracker shows the average two-year fixed rate has dipped from 5.03% to 4.52%. Combined with wage growth outpacing inflation, that reduction is giving more households the confidence to proceed. For many movers, whether eyeing a flat by Southbourne’s clifftops, a family house near Christchurch Harbour, a sea-view apartment in Highcliffe, or a village home in Bransgore, the new calculus is simple: if the guide price is right and the home fits, it’s possible to move with confidence.
A Little Perspective: What TwentyEA’s Data Tells Us
To frame 2025’s market properly, industry analysts TwentyEA highlight several useful trends:
- 809,000 price-reduction events recorded year-to-date, the highest on record, +17.8% vs last year.
- Even with more reductions, the share that then sell is broadly steady: 38.7% this year vs 38.1% in 2024.Reductions are slowing in the £200k–£350k band but rising at £1m+, relevant for premium clifftop and waterfront stock.
- Regionally, reductions are easing in the North and rising in London and the South, led by inner London.
- Transactions are up 15% year-on-year. 1.24m new properties have been listed YTD, the highest for this point in seven years.
- Sales agreed have reached 897,000, +5.9% vs 2024 and ahead of both 2023 and 2019, evidence of resilient buyer confidence.
- New instructions are up 3.7% YoY, strongest in £350k–£1m, followed by £200k–£350k (+4.6%).
- The average time to sale agreed is 77 days YTD (up six days; highest in five years).
The average time to exchange is 123 days (~4.0 months), +2.3% vs 2024 and +36% vs 2019 (ranging from 2.9 months in Scotland to 4.6 months in Outer London).
What does this mean locally? It’s not a “slow” market, it’s a busy market with more moving parts. With broader choice and longer legal timelines, preparation and pricing discipline are rewarded.
On The Ground Across Christchurch, Southbourne, Highcliffe & Bransgore
We’re seeing good levels of stock and motivated buyers across our patch. The differentiator is how and where you launch:
- Christchurch – Rivers, harbour walks and historic centre living remain huge draws. Turn-key family houses and well-located bungalows achieve strong interest when guided against recent comparables and presented immaculately.
- Southbourne – Cliff-top apartments, character roads off Southbourne Grove, and homes near the beach huts are busy when the launch price reflects size, outlook and parking. Flexible after-work and weekend viewings make a real difference.
- Highcliffe – Clifftop and castle-side locations command attention, but with prime stock seeing more reductions at £1m+, precision pricing is essential. Garden orientation, EV charging, and EPC improvements all help justify a stronger guide.
- Bransgore – Village houses on the New Forest fringe appeal to upsizers and relocators seeking space and schools. Realistic guides plus strong kerb appeal turn first-week viewings into offers.
Across all four areas, the first two weeks of marketing are decisive. Launching at a confident, evidence-based guide captures peak attention before buyers’ shortlists settle. Over-pitching typically pushes a listing down the comparison list and risks a later reduction that rarely recovers early momentum.
Practical guidance for sellers this September
- Price with proof. Anchor your guide to recent sold comparables and current competing listings, not last spring’s headlines.
- Win the launch window. The bulk of enquiries lands in the first 10–14 days: invest in standout photography, accurate floorplans, polished copy and kerb appeal.
- Front-load the legals. Instruct your solicitor at launch; line up ID checks, property information forms, warranties/certificates, and (for leaseholds) service-charge and ground-rent packs to outpace the 4-month national average to exchange.
- Make access easy. After-work and weekend slots capture commuter and second-home interest; short-notice viewings often convert to better offers.
- Be strategic, not reactive. With more price-reduction events nationally, especially at the upper end, a precise starting figure beats a “test and trim” approach.
Smart Steps For Buyers
- Get mortgage-ready. With two-year fixes around 4.52%, an Agreement in Principle strengthens your hand and speeds up legals.
- Compare confidently, act decisively. High stock levels give breathing room for second viewings, but the best-priced homes still attract competition, decisiveness counts.
- Lean on local insight. Micro-location matters here: sea views, beach access, school catchments, and road position (quiet cul-de-sacs vs through-routes) all move the value needle, and your resale prospects.
Outlook: Positive, Practical, and Well-timed
Put the strands together, sales agreed +4% YoY, mortgage rates easing, steady new instructions, and resilient transaction volumes and September 2025 looks decisively positive for movers across Christchurch, Southbourne, Highcliffe and Bransgore. Sellers who embrace realistic pricing are converting early interest into results; buyers are finding more homes that fit both budget and lifestyle.
If you’re planning a sale or want a no-obligation conversation about value, Slades estate agents in Christchurch, Southbourne, Highcliffe & Bransgore will help you launch with confidence: precise valuation, clear strategy and proactive marketing to turn a busy September into your successful move.