Autumn/Winter 2011

As usual all is not as the media would have us believe.  The market here is generally soft  with little or no movement in prices.  Most new instructions are at the lower end of the market which is already saturated with property for sale to a  low number of proceedable buyers therefore prices are dropping. Agents have informed me that some buy to let purchasers have entered this lower end of the market so perhaps it is not all gloomy.  Other reductions are seen across the board due to price adjustments on properties which have been on the markets for too long at over egged prices or are blemished in any way. The middle of the market is where most  deals are being done but this has no effect on price levels.

The gap between ‘perfect’ and ‘average’ is widening creating opportunities for some buyers who can make a less than ideal property work for them.  Those who are searching for perfection  need to be aware that buyers outstrip the modest amount of blemish free houses coming to the market and therefore they must be prepared not to drag their heels and expect to pay a fair price.  Not all vendors need to sell, especially in rural areas.  An increasing number of owners of country houses, equestrian property, farms and estates are dipping their toes in the water by putting their homes on the market ‘quietly’, these properties will not be found on the internet or in estate agents windows but I know where they are.  So  remember that many vendors of rural property will not be tempted by cheeky offers.

The market at the moment is hard to read and the true values of properties are very hard to ascertain and this situation is likely to continue but do not let that put you off entering the market, there are deals to be had if you know where to look.