subject: Housing Market Shows Improvements, According To Estate Agents [print this page] According to estate agents, the number of people looking to buy or sell homes has increased over the past month.
The number of people trying to sell homes rose last month to the highest level recorded for six months, the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) said.
To add to this, the number of prospective buyers also increased by 7%, while Mortgage approvals rose by 12% in February.
The NAEA said it was not unusual for spring to bring an increase in activity, and suggested sales would continue to improve in the coming months.
"Spring has finally arrived and brought with it a much needed boost to the housing market, particularly among sellers," said Gary Smith of the NAEA.
"This figure has been low in recent months and this is a welcome indication that reflects a growing confidence that the recovery is well underway."
A survey carried out earlier in the week by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics), reported that the number of people putting their homes on the market had reached its highest level in March since May 2007.
The average amount of homes up for sale at each of its member's branches increased from 56 in February to 60 in March, according to the NAEA's survey.
This was balanced out as the number of those looking to buy new homes registered with each branch rose by 7% last month, to 274 per branch.
The NAEA added that sales also went up from an average of 6.8 per branch in February to eight in March.
It said the figures were encouraging, especially with more sellers around.
"This month's figures reveal an increase in the levels of housing stock with more properties available for sale per branch - the highest value recorded over the last six months," the NAEA said.
"More house-hunters also registered their interest. With the bad weather now behind us buyers and sellers alike are returning to the market with a renewed vigour," it added.
