Pumpkins, Previews and Predictions

As the leaves turn golden and Bath’s crescents glow in the softer autumn light, we find ourselves in that familiar October rhythm - a blend of reflection, preparation, and a touch of anticipation. The pumpkins are appearing in the shops, the schools are well back into their stride, and the property market enters its final active phase before the year’s end.

At Otters Home Search, autumn is often one of our busiest seasons. Our clients, whether returning expats ready to put down roots, couples downsizing from larger family homes, or international buyers drawn to Bath’s heritage and lifestyle, tend to use this period to make meaningful progress. We’re out daily previewing both on- and off-market properties across the city and the surrounding countryside, helping clients refine their choices before the holidays arrive.

Market Mood and Momentum

The national housing market this autumn remains a picture of cautious stability. While activity levels are patchy in some regions, Bath and the neighbouring villages continue to show quiet resilience. Buyers are discerning, sellers increasingly pragmatic, and well-presented homes in good locations are still finding their match.

The broader economic story seems to be settling into a low and slow pattern of growth - not exciting, perhaps, but steady. Inflationary pressures have eased, interest rates are holding, and the sense of lurching uncertainty that defined the past few years feels, thankfully, to be subsiding. It’s not boom time, but it does feel as though the world, and the market, is exhaling a little.

Keeping Reality in Check

It’s a time for level heads and forward motion. Progress may be incremental, but it’s still progress. For our clients, that means continuing to explore opportunities, to look closely at what’s available (and sometimes what’s quietly available), and to make informed, confident decisions.

Whether you’re planning a return to the UK, considering a lifestyle change within the West Country, or simply curious about what’s next, our role remains the same: to keep an ear to the ground, an eye on the detail, and your goals in focus.

So as the pumpkins appear and the year begins its graceful wind-down, we’ll keep doing what we do best - previewing, advising, and guiding clients toward their next chapter. Slow and steady may not make headlines, but it often makes for the happiest moves.

If you’d like to talk about your plans for the months ahead, Francesca or Abbie would love to hear from you — visit www.ottershomesearch.com or email hello@ottershomesearch.com.