Another 5 star Google review received on a recent Shepperton sale.

Are you contemplating moving home in Shepperton during the next 9 months? You may be a Shepperton landlord wondering whether you should grow your portfolio or sell off a few properties? Or you're a Shepperton first-time buyer considering if now is the best time to move?

The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) suggest something rather unexpected. After years of worsening affordability, the picture has begun to improve. Wages have risen faster than house prices since 2021, nudging the headline affordability ratios in the right direction. On the face of it, that feels like progress.

For decades, the flat was the natural starting point for many first-time home buyers. The first rung of the ladder. The affordable option. The stepping stone to something bigger. For landlords, it was a dependable investment. For first-time buyers, it was often the only way in.