If you want to move in 2026, positioning yourself as a serious buyer is essential. Here’s how to put yourself ahead of the competition and be taken seriously by sellers.

Placing your home on the market in December can set you up for a stronger, faster sale in early 2026. With fewer competing listings and highly motivated buyers still searching, December offers a rare opportunity to stand out, attract serious interest, and get ahead of the busy new-year property rush.

The semi-detached home remains Britain’s most loved housing type, shaping family life for generations. This article explores how the value of semis varies widely across the UK, from London’s seven-figure prices to far more attainable regions, and why their emotional pull remains as strong as ever.

A new £2m-plus home surcharge is billed as progressive, but its impact falls mainly on London and the South East, where many owners now face an annual bill from 2028. Critics warn it punishes long-term residents, cools the prime market and deepens regional divides, even as households weigh downsizing. Many fear a new cliff edge at £2m too.