The number of house hunters rose in January to its highest level in five years, according to estate agents
Latest figures from the National Association of Estate Agents’ (NAEA) revealed the average number of house hunters registering with an agent increased from 281 in December 2012 to 314 in January. This is the highest figure since September 2007, when an average of 326 house hunters was recorded.
Also in January there was a rise of 25 per cent in house sales made to first-time buyer , this is the highest percentage in almost two years and compares to 21 per cent in December.
The increase in demand impacted the number of sales agreed, which rose from an average of five per branch to seven.
President of the NAEA Mark Hayward, said: “These latest results reflect a wider upturn in the market at the start of what we hope will be a better year for UK property. The strong number of enquiries during January suggests the financial barriers that have plagued the market for so many years may be beginning to ease as banks increasingly look at new ways to assist buyers.
“Strong financial results from some of the country’s leading house builders this week suggest a growing confidence that some form of a recovery is beginning to take shape.”
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