Start with readiness, not a prediction
There is no local price forecast in this article. A more useful question is what would need to be true before you committed to one particular property. Put three things on paper: what you know, what is still assumed and which unanswered questions could change your decision.
Three checks for one real property
- Purpose: write down how you expect to use the property, when you expect to use it and which parts of that plan are essential rather than optional.
- Evidence: separate confirmed information from statements that still need documents or an answer from an independent qualified professional.
- Resilience: ask your own financial adviser whether the planned commitment leaves enough flexibility for your circumstances and for costs or timing that may change. This article gives no universal figure.
Give waiting a purpose
Give each open question an owner and a review date. That might mean waiting for a document, a technical assessment, written payment information or professional advice. A seller's deadline is not evidence that a property is suitable for you. Waiting is useful when it produces a clearer answer; delay without a question to resolve is simply delay.
Your next step can be to continue with further checks, wait for named evidence or remove the property from your shortlist. None of those choices requires a prediction about next year's prices.