The property market continues to show encouraging signs as we move into autumn, and here at James Du Pavey, we have just experienced one of our busiest Augusts ever.

Over the last month, we agreed 140 property sales, which is 27% higher than the same period last year. The average price of the homes we agreed sales on was also 5.6% higher than during the same period in 2025.

For us, that is a very positive indication of what is happening on the ground across the areas we serve, including Eccleshall, Stone, Nantwich, Cheadle and the surrounding areas.

While buyers remain considered in their decision making, they are very much still active and prepared to commit when the right property comes to market at the right price.

A resilient national market

The wider UK market has also remained resilient through the summer.

UK house prices were 2.7% higher year on year in May, while property transactions in June were 2.5% higher than a year earlier. Gross mortgage lending was also up strongly, rising by 15.1% year on year.

There are still some economic uncertainties, but the overall picture is one of a functioning market where buyers and sellers continue to move.

Cheshire East and the North West performing strongly

The North West continues to stand out as one of the stronger parts of the country.

Average property values across the region were 5.8% higher than a year ago, significantly ahead of the national figure.

For our Nantwich team in particular, the local statistics are especially encouraging. Cheshire East is ranked as the most active housing market in the North West, with 3.6% of private housing stock turning over.

Homes across the North West are also finding buyers relatively quickly, with an average time to sell of 34 days, which is 4.3% quicker than a year ago.

That broadly reflects what we are seeing around Nantwich, where well presented and correctly priced homes continue to attract strong levels of interest.

[READ THE FULL AUTUMN 2026 NORTH WEST PROPERTY MARKET REPORT HERE]

Positive signs across Staffordshire

There are also some very encouraging figures across Staffordshire and the wider West Midlands.

Average property values across the West Midlands were 2.7% higher year on year, but some of the areas closest to our offices are performing considerably better than the regional average.

Staffordshire Moorlands, which includes much of the area around our Cheadle office, recorded annual price growth of 7.3%, making it one of the strongest-performing parts of the West Midlands.

Activity is also healthy around Stone and Eccleshall. Stafford appears among the region’s more active housing markets, while Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire Moorlands also feature prominently in the regional rankings.

The overall West Midlands average time to find a buyer currently stands at 37 days.

[READ THE FULL AUTUMN 2026 WEST MIDLANDS PROPERTY MARKET REPORT HERE]

More choice means getting the launch right matters

One important feature of the current market is the amount of property available.

The supply of homes for sale is close to a 12-year high for this time of year, meaning buyers have more choice than they have had for some time. The result is that properties need to compete harder for attention.

That does not mean homes are not selling. Our own August figures demonstrate quite the opposite.

It does mean that pricing, presentation and marketing strategy matter enormously.

The homes attracting the strongest interest are generally those that are positioned correctly from day one, presented at their best and marketed to the widest possible audience.

Our outlook for autumn

As we head into one of the traditionally important periods of the year for the property market, we are feeling positive.

Agreeing 140 sales in a single month, at a level 27% ahead of last year, demonstrates that there is significant buyer demand across our markets.

And with the average price of the properties we agreed sales on 5.6% higher than the same period last year, there is also evidence that buyers are prepared to pay strong prices for the right homes.

For anyone considering moving in Eccleshall, Stone, Nantwich, Cheadle or the surrounding areas, now is a very good time to understand both the value of your property and how best to position it in the autumn market.

Speak to your local James Du Pavey team for an up-to-date appraisal and advice on your next move.

Read the full Autumn 2026 market reports

For a more detailed look at the figures, you can also read our full North West Autumn 2026 Property Market Report and West Midlands Autumn 2026 Property Market Report.