If you’ve been following the headlines lately, you might be wondering — what on earth is happening to the housing market?
One day, it’s “prices falling”, the next it’s “record demand and bidding wars.”
So what’s really going on? And what does it mean for people buying or selling in Cheadle, Cheadle Hulme, Gatley, Cheadle Heath, Heald Green or Stockport.
Let’s cut through the noise and talk about what we’re actually seeing on the ground.
The truth is, homes are still selling and the good ones, priced sensibly, are still selling reasonably quickly. But buyers are behaving differently now.
They’re taking longer to decide, viewing more properties, and comparing value carefully. This isn’t a bad thing — it just means presentation, pricing and marketing matter more than ever.
🗣️ “Those first few weeks on the market are crucial — that’s when excitement peaks and the best offers appear. There is a 56% chance that a property won't sell at all if it doesn't sell within the first 6-8 weeks”
If your property is launched properly — priced right, photographed beautifully, and promoted effectively both online and offline — you’ll capture that initial surge of interest and attract the strongest buyers. After that it becomes much more difficult to capture buyers interest.
We’re seeing the highest number of available properties in years across our local area. For buyers, that’s great news. For sellers, it means one thing: you need to stand out.
At Maurice Kilbride, we don’t just list your home — we launch it.
Our approach includes:
✅ Professional photography and presentation
✅ Powerful social media and digital marketing
✅ Access to a database of pre-qualified local buyers ready to proceed now
That combination of reach and readiness helps our clients secure faster, stronger results — often over £10,000 more on average than other agents in SK8, according to date from the property research group Twenty EA.
With mortgage rates hovering around 4.5%, buyers are still cautious, but they haven’t disappeared. Lenders are adapting, and affordability is stabilising as incomes rise, but uncertaintly about the economy and upcoming budget is causing many buyers to put on hold their plans until they see what changes may affect their buying position.
We’re are though seeing continued demand from:
Growing families upsizing locally
First-time buyers determined to get on the ladder
Movers relocating to South Manchester in search of space and community
So while confidence has wavered in some areas, our local market remains resilient and active, but challenging.
Let’s be honest: one of the biggest problems in the property world right now isn’t prices or rates — it’s trust. Homeowners want straight answers, not sales pitches. And that’s exactly what we’ve built our business on
“Our reputation over 25 years is built on honesty, integrity and transparency — and that matters now more than ever.”
With over 110 five-star Google reviews and as the only local member of The FIA, we hold ourselves to the highest professional standards.
Because when you’re making one of life’s biggest financial decisions, you deserve genuine guidance, experience, support - not gimmicks.
As we move through the rest of the year, expect a market that’s may decline slightly, which is probably a seasonal drop off, but there are still buyers actively looking and ready to take the plunge. There won’t be dramatic price jumps, if anything we expect to see prices slip slightly, but realistically priced homes with strong marketing will continue to sell. We expect the market will start to see an upturn as we head into 2026 and towards the Spring market.
In short: The market isn’t broken — it’s evolving.
And those who adapt and are prepared will come out ahead.
Our Advice to Local Homeowners
If you’re thinking of selling, don’t wait for the market to “improve.” The truth is, the best time to move is when you’re ready — and when you have the right strategy behind you. Start with an honest conversation, an open mind and a clear plan.
No jargon, no pressure, just expert local advice from a team that’s been helping people move in Cheadle for over two decades.
In 2026, success in property will not be about chasing the market — it’s about getting ahead of it.
📞 Call us on 0161 428 3663
📧 Email: sales@mkiea.co.uk
🌐 Visit: Book a FREE valuation and marketing strategy meeting - https://www.mkiea.co.uk/valuation
⭐ See why our clients rate us 5 stars on Google: https://www.mkiea.co.uk/testimonials
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