What the local estate agents think ...
BRAMLEYS
PAUL KEIGHLEY, of estate agent Bramleys (pictured below) , said: "We are seeing increased activity, without a doubt. All our offices are busier with enquiries and offers, but it is still down to the vendors being realistic on price and the availability of funding. We have more people viewing property and more offers coming in. At times, some offers are low because people are trying to take advantage of the market. Some people are offering 20% below the asking price, even if the house is realistically priced."
SIMON BLYTH
SIMON BLYTH, whose estate agency chain has branches in Holmfirth, Lindley and Kirkburton (below right), said: "Prices are definitely stabilising and there is significantly more interest in property. The number of viewings is up substantially and we are busy on the phones." He said there were problems with building society and bank valuers "down valuing" properties – but added that many buyers were not taking too much heed of those valuations, preferring to trust their instincts on the true worth of a property.
Mr Blyth said property was still regarded as a good long-term investment – particularly given the performance of stocks and shares. "People with money are looking to buy a property or upgrade their current home," he said.
Gallery@HD1
MICHAEL VILIA, sales executive with Gallery@HD1, said: "It is getting a lot busier, but it is a bit of a false picture because a lot of the sales are for repossessed properties. There are cash-rich investors out there – and people in dire circumstances who are having to sell at a low price. Summer time always brings extra business and there are definitely signs of the market picking up."
REED RAINS
A SPOKESWOMAN said: "We are very busy on both sales and rentals and have been since February. It has definitely started to pick up. We sold more houses in March this year than we did in the same month last year and we are getting first-time buyers in because there are a lot of good deals at the moment. Our valuation diaries are fully booked and we are also able to sell some of our more expensive
