Market optimism as demand soars

FEBRUARY saw a marked improvement in housing market conditions off the back of a robust seasonal upturn in demand.

Last month saw the number of buyers registering with agents grow by 18 per cent – the strongest level of demand seen since the start of the downturn.

In Yorkshire although prices remained static, there was an eight per cent rise in the number of properties on the market and a 26.9 per cent rise in the number of sales agreed. Sellers got about of 91 per cent of their asking price and homes took an average 12 weeks to sell. A scarcity of supply remains a key feature of the market, say Hometrack. Over the last six months there has been only a small increase in the supply of housing for sale.