Estate agents more optimistic
An unexpected surge in interest from potential homebuyers in December bodes well for the house market this year, estate agents have said.
The typical number of house hunters registered per branch then was 294, 32 more than the average figure for November, with viewings continuing until Christmas, the National Association of Estate Agents has revealed.
The number of first-time buyers also rose to 21 per cent, continuing the increase since this market sector hit its lowest proportion in nearly three years last autumn, although such buyers made up a quarter of the market in the same period last year.