The Willmott & Lake blog

One of the most common questions homeowners ask is whether now is the right time to sell. The honest answer is that it depends on a combination of market conditions, buyer demand and your own personal circumstances. What We’re...

As we move into 2026, we are seeing a far more positive and settled outlook for the housing market. Over the past year, buyers and sellers have had to contend with uncertainty around interest rates, inflation and potential policy...

As 2025 draws to a close, we wanted to take a moment to say a huge thank you. This year has been another unforgettable one for us at Willmott & Lake, and none of it would have been possible without the incredible local community...

CM23 Market Update – November 2025 November has been another active month for the CM23 property market, with steady movement across new listings, sales agreed, and price reductions. Despite national headlines around the Autumn...

What the Autumn Budget Could Mean for Homeowners in Bishop’s Stortford With the Autumn Budget landing on Wednesday 26th November, there’s been a lot of speculation around potential property tax changes. Understandably, this...

CM23 Property Market Update – October 2025 (Bishop’s Stortford, Manuden, Farnham & Berden) October has been a noticeably different month in the local property market compared to September, and the numbers tell an interesting...

On Thursday 16th October 2025, we hosted our annual Willmott & Lake Charity Quiz at The Belgian Brewer in Bishop’s Stortford — raising money for the incredible team at Essex & Herts Air Ambulance (EHAAT), a cause close to so...

The government has kicked off a consultation to modernise how homes are bought and sold in England — with the aim of making the process faster, clearer and less stressful. Early headlines suggest first-time buyers could save...

Stamp Duty in 2025 – what’s being talked about and what it means locally There’s a lot of noise about “stamp duty changes” right now. The key point – nothing has been decided yet. Government is reportedly considering...

Market Update – September 2025 Base Rate held at 4% and local housing activity on the rise At Willmott & Lake we’re always keeping a close eye on the housing market and wider economic trends, so we can give our clients the...