The secret maths of a moving day: October 2026

The short version: in October 2026, UK inflation is 3.3% and average earnings are growing at 3.7%. Wages are beating prices for the first time in a while, which gently helps buyers. In central Worthing (BN11) there are 498 homes for sale and an average of 29 sales a month, so sellers need an honest asking price.

Myth: if house prices are rising and inflation is rising, buying a home must be getting harder for everyone.

Reality: what matters is your spending power, and right now it’s edging up.

Hello, I’m Susi Knightwell, a Worthing estate agent. I live and work in Worthing, and when I’m out and about people talk about inflation as if it’s weather rolling in off the Channel. It’s simpler than that. Inflation is the cost of life getting a bit more expensive.

If your weekly shop cost £100 last October and inflation is 3.3%, the same basket costs £103.30 now. Same milk, same bread, heavier price tag. You see it at the petrol pump and on your energy bill.

Is your pay keeping up with prices?

Average earnings are growing at 3.7% a year. Inflation is 3.3%. That leaves real wage growth of about 0.4%.

It won’t feel like winning the lottery. But after a long stretch of running up a down escalator, your money is going slightly further again. For anyone planning a move, that matters more than the headline house price.

What this means for your mortgage

The Bank of England base rate has stayed at 3.75% for several months. Mortgage rates aren’t falling as fast as people hoped. But because pay is rising faster than prices, a monthly mortgage payment takes a slightly smaller bite out of your take-home pay than it did a year ago.

The average UK house price is now £288,279. Annual growth has slowed from 3.9% in July to 1.2% this October. Slower price growth plus rising wages makes for a fairer playing field for buyers than we’ve seen in a few years.

What’s happening in Worthing BN11 right now

National figures are the tide. They reach every harbour eventually, including ours between the shore and the South Downs.

In BN11 (central Worthing), these are the numbers today:

• 498 homes for sale
• an average asking price of £292,112
• about 29 sales a month
• inflation between 2.8% and 3.4% since May

That’s a lot of homes chasing a modest number of buyers. At 29 sales a month, it would take roughly 17 months to sell the current stock. So buyers have room to breathe and room to negotiate, and sellers who price on hope rather than evidence will sit on the market (more on that in why well-priced homes are the ones selling in BN11).

If you’re selling, the answer is an honest figure based on what’s actually selling in Worthing right now, then marketing that makes your home stand out from the other 497.

If you’re a landlord, inflation pushes up maintenance and insurance costs. Over the last seven years, BN11 prices have risen 16.8%, around £42,911 on a typical home. Homes have held their value well over the long run, but past growth isn’t a promise, so plan with sensible numbers.

The outlook for the rest of 2026

We’re heading into winter with a sense of balance. Prices aren’t racing away and wages are starting to win the race against inflation. It’s a good time for sensible moves and careful planning. The foundations of the market look firmer than they have in a long time. For more local context, read the slow-cooker market.

Questions people ask

Is it a good time to buy a home in Worthing?

With 498 homes for sale in BN11 and slower price growth, buyers have more choice and more room to negotiate than in recent years. Your own mortgage rate and budget matter most. See my guide to buying in Worthing.

Are house prices falling in Worthing?

Not falling, but slowing. Nationally, annual growth has dropped from 3.9% in July to 1.2% in October 2026. BN11 has grown 16.8% over seven years.

Is inflation higher than wage growth?

Not at the moment. Inflation is 3.3% and average earnings are growing at 3.7%, so real wage growth is about 0.4%.

How much should I ask when selling my home in Worthing?

Start with what has actually sold on your street and nearby, not what is listed. Book a home visit and I’ll give you an honest figure, not a flattering one.

Thinking of selling or buying in central Worthing? Get in touch for a home visit and an honest figure. Let’s do this differently.

Follow along on Instagram at @propertyofWorthing.