{"id":1045,"date":"2023-02-23T10:56:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-23T10:56:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress-1197097-5857112.cloudwaysapps.com\/?p=1045"},"modified":"2026-06-16T17:56:28","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T17:56:28","slug":"how-to-choose-the-perfect-time-to-buy-for-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/strideup.co\/news\/insights\/how-to-choose-the-perfect-time-to-buy-for-you\/","title":{"rendered":"How to choose the perfect time to buy for you"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Figuring out the right time to buy is one of the most difficult decisions you\u2019ll face when buying your first home. Trying to understand whether prices are going up, down or holding steady in your particular area is a minefield. To help you get your head around it, we\u2019ve put together a guide to understanding your local housing market, starting with the terms you need to understand.<\/p>\n\n\n<section class=\"table_of_contents\">\n    <h5>Table of contents<\/h5>\n    <ul>\n        <li><a href=\"#section1\">What we heard at MTF 2025<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"#section2\">The data confirms it: Our community is underserved<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"#section3\">StrideUp&#8217;s model resonated deeply<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"#section4\">More than a moment &#8211; a movement<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"#section5\">The data confirms it: Our community is underserved<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"#section6\">So, what\u2019s next?<\/a><\/li>\n    <\/ul>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Asking price, offer price or agreed price?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The asking price is the advertised price of a property, as set by the buyer and the estate agent. This is the amount the buyer is hoping to achieve, and it\u2019s generally above what they actually expect to get. Occasionally the asking price will be set at below market value to facilitate a quick sale, for example if the buyer is keen to move for a new job or secure a particular new home quickly. But generally, you\u2019ll find the asking price is quite a bit higher than what the buyer pays in the end &#8211; known as the agreed price or final sale price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The final sale price is what you\u2019ll pay once you\u2019ve had the results of a survey (or done your own sleuthing) and discovered any work that needs doing to the house. This might be something cosmetic, like cracked tiles, or a job to make the house safe, such as addressing structural issues or rising damp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Comparison website GetAgent analysed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.estateagenttoday.co.uk\/guides-tips\/breaking-news\/2020\/8\/average-sale-price-is-over-13k-below-asking-new-survey-shows?source=related_articles\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">data<\/a> from property portals and cross-referenced them with the HM Land Registry database of final sale prices across England and Wales. They found that buyers paid \u00a313,303 less than the asking price on average. In areas like Kensington and Chelsea, you can expect to pay around \u00a390,000 less than the buyer originally asked for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lower sale prices don\u2019t only affect areas with expensive housing, however. In Gwynedd, North Wales and Blackpool \u2013 where the average asking prices are \u00a3200,556 and \u00a3119,199 \u2013 buyers can save an average of \u00a315,000 and \u00a37,000 respectively. That represents a healthy discount on what is probably the biggest purchase you\u2019ll make in your life, and it could help you to buy now rather than waiting for house prices to fall in your area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Hang on, aren\u2019t you missing one?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes, the offer price. The good news is that you decide what you\u2019re willing to pay for a home. But when you find your dream home (spacious kitchen, close to the office and that view!) it\u2019s all too easy to get carried away and throw your maximum budget in at the first bid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How much you\u2019re willing to offer is completely up to you, but a good rule of thumb is to offer 5-10% lower than the asking price. If the house has been on the market for a while, or if houses in your area are selling slowly, you can probably pitch your offer even lower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re looking for more tips on getting your dream home at the dream price, check out our first-time buyer\u2019s guide on how to <a href=\"https:\/\/strideup.co\/blog\/first-time-negotiation\">negotiate your offer<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"custom_video custom_image wp-block-video w-full h-auto tabland:rounded-[32px] relative overflow-hidden\">\n    <div class=\"image w-full h-full max-h-[600px] tabland:rounded-[32px] overflow-hidden object-cover relative\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"w-full h-auto\" src=\"https:\/\/strideup.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/64621e8dd5f726e95d68c128_wilhelm_gunkel_2_Rd_Ys8c7q_G0_unsplash_7146c52c58.jpeg\" alt=\"Asking price, offer price and agreed price can vary considerably when buying your home.\">\n    <\/div>\n    <figcaption>Asking price, offer price and agreed price can vary considerably when buying your home.<\/figcaption>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Should I wait for my local housing market to collapse?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tldr; probably not. We\u2019d all like to pounce on our dream home right at the moment prices reach their lowest point, but that moment can only be identified in hindsight and oftentimes it mightn\u2019t line up with the optimum time for your personal circumstances. <em>Our <a href=\"https:\/\/strideup.co\/finance-calculator\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"1448\">StrideUp finance calculator<\/a> can help you model different scenarios.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If house prices do flatten or go down, they are likely to do regionally. If you\u2019re based in areas like the Midlands or the North East, house prices could come down over the next couple of years. But if you\u2019re based in London or the South East, it is likely that they will remain more stable. And, because of the lack of available housing and the UK\u2019s growing population, many experts assert that house prices are unlikely to collapse <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisismoney.co.uk\/money\/mortgageshome\/article-11327445\/There-wont-house-price-crash-says-Fred-Harrison.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">completely<\/a>. If you\u2019re waiting to buy because you\u2019re hoping for house prices to plummet, you might have to wait a long time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s difficult to predict exactly how house prices will respond to the rise in interest rates and slow economic growth, especially following the chaotic final quarter of 2022. Karen Noye, a mortgage expert at Quilter, <a href=\"https:\/\/moneyweek.com\/investments\/property\/house-prices\/605607\/house-prices-in-2023#:~:text=Both%20Lloyds%20and%20Halifax%20expect,over%20the%20next%20two%20years\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">explains<\/a> that house price fluctuations need to be considered on a longer time frame:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center stretched\"><strong>\u201cTherefore, while it is likely that the cost pressures associated with the current economy will cause there to be a drop in house prices in the short to medium term, when viewed through a historical lens a 10% or even 15% drop would represent a minor blip in a housing market that has largely had a significant upward trajectory. This slowdown in the market and a potential increase in housing stock will, at least during the start of 2023, be likely to continue to depress prices.\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, finding the right time to buy your first home might involve a close look at your hopes and ambitions, rather than scrutinising interest rates and house price fluctuations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to figure out the best time to buy for YOU<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Personal circumstances are always a factor in buying your first home. For many people, owning a house provides a sense of security and the opportunity to build the future they\u2019ve dreamed of. Timing your purchase correctly can help you achieve those dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example, job security and income are a major factor in securing a competitive decision in principle from a mortgage lender. If you\u2019ve got a secure job right now but you\u2019re considering returning to studying or thinking about a change of career in the next few years, you\u2019ll need to think about whether you\u2019ll be able to borrow the amount you want on a reduced income.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And, while having a child doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t have a full-time job, many people choose to work part-time when they have a baby to save on childcare costs and spend quality time with their little one. Even if house prices have gone down in your area, you still need to convince a mortgage lender to offer you sufficient finance at a good enough rate and that will be more challenging if you don\u2019t have reliable, full-time employment. So, if you\u2019re itching to start a family or have another baby, it could be better to buy a home first.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"special_separator flex justify-center my-8 middletab:my-14\">\n    <svg width=\"62\" height=\"12\" viewBox=\"0 0 62 12\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n        <path d=\"M15.5 7.45938C15.5 3.30547 12.0854 -0.0560486 7.89524 0.000708303C3.98534 0.0537023 0.730931 3.14742 0.512121 7.03041C0.41249 8.7974 0.932401 10.4402 1.8748 11.7644C2.06429 12.0304 2.442 12.0793 2.69297 11.8695L7.19939 8.10879L7.20286 8.10691C7.41915 7.92692 7.69787 7.81874 8.0018 7.81874C8.30574 7.81874 8.59171 7.92974 8.80926 8.11381L8.81273 8.11569L13.3084 11.8673C13.5597 12.0771 13.9377 12.0275 14.1272 11.7613C14.9918 10.5456 15.5 9.06143 15.5 7.45907V7.45938Z\" fill=\"#627C84\"\/>\n        <path d=\"M38.5 7.45938C38.5 3.30547 35.0854 -0.0560486 30.8952 0.000708303C26.9853 0.0537023 23.7309 3.14742 23.5121 7.03041C23.4125 8.7974 23.9324 10.4402 24.8748 11.7644C25.0643 12.0304 25.442 12.0793 25.693 11.8695L30.1994 8.10879L30.2029 8.10691C30.4191 7.92692 30.6979 7.81874 31.0018 7.81874C31.3057 7.81874 31.5917 7.92974 31.8093 8.11381L31.8127 8.11569L36.3084 11.8673C36.5597 12.0771 36.9377 12.0275 37.1272 11.7613C37.9918 10.5456 38.5 9.06143 38.5 7.45907V7.45938Z\" fill=\"#627C84\"\/>\n        <path d=\"M61.5 7.45938C61.5 3.30547 58.0854 -0.0560486 53.8952 0.000708303C49.9853 0.0537023 46.7309 3.14742 46.5121 7.03041C46.4125 8.7974 46.9324 10.4402 47.8748 11.7644C48.0643 12.0304 48.442 12.0793 48.693 11.8695L53.1994 8.10879L53.2029 8.10691C53.4191 7.92692 53.6979 7.81874 54.0018 7.81874C54.3057 7.81874 54.5917 7.92974 54.8093 8.11381L54.8127 8.11569L59.3084 11.8673C59.5597 12.0771 59.9377 12.0275 60.1272 11.7613C60.9918 10.5456 61.5 9.06143 61.5 7.45907V7.45938Z\" fill=\"#627C84\"\/>\n    <\/svg>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Ready to take the plunge?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re fed up of waiting for the perfect purchase moment to present itself, StrideUp can help. Our co-ownership model could boost your buying power and help you achieve your dream of home ownership sooner than you think.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"buttons flex flex-wrap items-center gap-6 mt-10 mb-14\">\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/portal.strideup.co\/\" class=\"btn\">Get started now<\/a>\n    \n            <a href=\"https:\/\/strideup.co\/products\/islamic-home-purchase-plans\" class=\"btn regular_btn\">Home Purchase Plans<\/a>\n    \n    <\/div>\n\n<div class=\"special_separator flex justify-center my-8 middletab:my-14\">\n    <svg width=\"62\" height=\"12\" viewBox=\"0 0 62 12\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n        <path d=\"M15.5 7.45938C15.5 3.30547 12.0854 -0.0560486 7.89524 0.000708303C3.98534 0.0537023 0.730931 3.14742 0.512121 7.03041C0.41249 8.7974 0.932401 10.4402 1.8748 11.7644C2.06429 12.0304 2.442 12.0793 2.69297 11.8695L7.19939 8.10879L7.20286 8.10691C7.41915 7.92692 7.69787 7.81874 8.0018 7.81874C8.30574 7.81874 8.59171 7.92974 8.80926 8.11381L8.81273 8.11569L13.3084 11.8673C13.5597 12.0771 13.9377 12.0275 14.1272 11.7613C14.9918 10.5456 15.5 9.06143 15.5 7.45907V7.45938Z\" fill=\"#627C84\"\/>\n        <path d=\"M38.5 7.45938C38.5 3.30547 35.0854 -0.0560486 30.8952 0.000708303C26.9853 0.0537023 23.7309 3.14742 23.5121 7.03041C23.4125 8.7974 23.9324 10.4402 24.8748 11.7644C25.0643 12.0304 25.442 12.0793 25.693 11.8695L30.1994 8.10879L30.2029 8.10691C30.4191 7.92692 30.6979 7.81874 31.0018 7.81874C31.3057 7.81874 31.5917 7.92974 31.8093 8.11381L31.8127 8.11569L36.3084 11.8673C36.5597 12.0771 36.9377 12.0275 37.1272 11.7613C37.9918 10.5456 38.5 9.06143 38.5 7.45907V7.45938Z\" fill=\"#627C84\"\/>\n        <path d=\"M61.5 7.45938C61.5 3.30547 58.0854 -0.0560486 53.8952 0.000708303C49.9853 0.0537023 46.7309 3.14742 46.5121 7.03041C46.4125 8.7974 46.9324 10.4402 47.8748 11.7644C48.0643 12.0304 48.442 12.0793 48.693 11.8695L53.1994 8.10879L53.2029 8.10691C53.4191 7.92692 53.6979 7.81874 54.0018 7.81874C54.3057 7.81874 54.5917 7.92974 54.8093 8.11381L54.8127 8.11569L59.3084 11.8673C59.5597 12.0771 59.9377 12.0275 60.1272 11.7613C60.9918 10.5456 61.5 9.06143 61.5 7.45907V7.45938Z\" fill=\"#627C84\"\/>\n    <\/svg>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"blog_cta rounded-[24px] tabland:rounded-[32px] my-8 tabland:my-14 py-8 tabland:py-12 px-6 tabland:px-5 text-center\" style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4;\">\n    <h2 class=\"font-ttnormspro slightly-tight-letters-title text-3xl font-extrabold mb-4\" style=\"color: #20272D;\">Stay in the loop.<\/h2>\n    <div class=\"desc font-lexend text-sm text-[#6A6A6C] mb-8 leading-normal font-feature-on tight-letters-paragraph\">Join our newsletter for exclusive updates and insights you won\u2019t want to miss.<\/div>\n            <a href=\"#subscription_form\" class=\"btn w-fit mx-auto\">\n            <div class=\"text\">\n                Subscribe            <\/div>\n        <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"disclaimer my-8 tabland:my-14\">\n    <div class=\"desc font-lexend text-xs text-[#6A6A6C] leading-tight font-feature-on slightly-tight-letters-paragraph\"><p>YOUR PROPERTY MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP THE PAYMENTS ON YOUR PURCHASE PLAN.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We explain what factors you need to consider to find the right time to buy for you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1046,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[91,88,89,87,90],"post_author":[50],"class_list":["post-1045","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-insights","tag-agreed-price","tag-asking-price","tag-house-prices","tag-housing-market","tag-offer-price","post_author-team-strideup"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/strideup.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1045","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/strideup.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/strideup.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/strideup.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/strideup.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1045"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/strideup.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1045\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3925,"href":"https:\/\/strideup.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1045\/revisions\/3925"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/strideup.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1046"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/strideup.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1045"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/strideup.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1045"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/strideup.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1045"},{"taxonomy":"post_author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/strideup.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_author?post=1045"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}