Over the last few weeks, there has been a growing narrative in the national press suggesting that the housing ladder is becoming increasingly difficult to climb. Much of this centres around the widening gap between smaller and larger homes, with many commentators suggesting that homeowners are becoming “stuck” and unable to move up.

Unless You Get This Wrong If you are a homeowner or landlord in Bicester and thinking about selling in the coming months, one question tends to rise above all others. How long is this going to take?

Warfield’s 2–3 bed price gap has widened sharply since 2006, but moving up isn’t as unaffordable. Lower mortgage rates, higher equity, and incomes mean real monthly costs have risen less than headlines suggest making some moves more achievable than assumed.

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.