But all are wary of predicting an end to the economic crisis too soon, despite the welcome boost. Four of the town’s agents report a striking increase sales in June and say many homes are going to local people, including first-time buyers.
Bruce Attwood, office manager for Berriman Eaton, said: “June has seen the most drastic increase in sales for over two years, which gives us an air of optimism for the rest of the year.
“Since the start of the year sales have risen steadily, and the last three months are comparable to that of 2006 as we see confidence returning to the housing market.
“Mortgages seem to be more readily available if you have a decent deposit, and as prices have dropped 20 per cent from the peak of August 2007, buyers realise that they are purchasing at a good time.”
The company’s figures show more than half of houses sold went to buyers from the local area and that none were bought by investors hoping to make a profit.
Berriman Eaton partner Caroline Eaton said housing was returning to a more “normal” market with people moving for the more usual reasons of relocation, needing more or less space and divorce rather then making money.
“In the past people were buying houses, doing them up and moving in two years but that isn’t the case now. Also, I don’t feel the increase in sales will force prices up. It’s more a case of people simply getting back into the market.
“The figures are really interesting – from our June sales 45 per cent were from old stock reduced and of the 55 per cent which are non-reduced sales, all are new instructions.”
The agent was starting to see a shortage of new properties, with demand out-stripping supply.
John Andrews of Doolittle & Dalley confirmed June had been a great month for house sales and also for lettings. “We made more sales in June than throughout our winter period,” he said. “We are getting more instructions coming in – they had dried up. And we are also finding that as well as sales picking up, lettings are going very well too. We’re letting a property a day at the moment and getting to a shortage of properties.”
He agreed fewer properties were going to investors. “We did have people investing from abroad because the euro rate to the pound was so good, but not now.
“We’re seeing local buyers and are starting to see some first-time buyers coming back which is very encouraging.
“Basically, people are confident they will have a job in six months, confident in the market and confident they can get a mortgage.”
He added that as house price surveyor for the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors for Bridgnorth area he had recorded figures showing an overall rise during June.
Michael Nettleton of Nock Deighton said sales for June were 10 per cent up on the previous month, continuing a trend which had started since the market hit the bottom in January.
Low interest rates meant a lot of savers were putting their money in bricks and mortar, he said. People feel less uncertainty and are beginning to plan. Correctly-priced property is selling across the board.”
Phil Herdson, partner at Phipps & Pritchard, said his agents had experienced a continuing trend upwards since March but was wary of predictions.
“What we are looking at certainly has all the signs of being an upturn but I hope it is not another bubble that is going to burst. There are lots of things to come out of the woodwork yet, especially public sector unemployment which could have an impact.”
* Hoping to boost sales in the luxury market is ex-England and Wolves star Steve Bull who will be launching a new showhome for David Wilson Mercia Homes at their Ludlow Gate site on the Ludlow Road on Saturday July 4 at 11.30am. Prices at Ludlow Gate start from £425,000.
