You could be indeed forgiven for forgetting that we are fast approaching spring; well maybe not in terms of temperature but certainly in terms of market season.  The springtime is when it all happens and the bulk of the annual business occurs.

And what a different spring it will be from last year, what a different attitude it is that now pervades the SALES market.  There is optimism, there is action, there is in fact a market and a pretty good one at that.

Here are a few general sound bites: 

'Taking an average of the November Nationwide and the Halifax indices, house prices in December were almost 6% above levels at the end of 2008' ... 'The RICS Housing Market Survey shows that new buyer enquiries, a leading demand indicator, increased again.'...'Supply has also continued to increase, after a dearth of property on the market through much of 2009.'

All good then.  Well, there's obviously an element of puff in all these quotes but what is certain is that it is an awfully lot better than it was 12 months ago and although we expect a market cooling prior to the May election, there is generally a month-on-month improvement in the business we do and, more importantly in the attitudes of both buyers and sellers who want a positive and operational market and not the stagnant mire we had previously.

The RENTALS market is thankfully fast improving also.  It's not usual for both sales and rentals to be suffering at the same time, it is either one or the other, not both, but wider economic forces conspired together to create a very strange environment for us last year.  Happily, it looks as if the worse is well behind us as we enter much more optimistic times.

ARLA are particularly upbeat recording that a 'rise in tenants is a positive sign for the industry, as it indicates increased market activity' but they also are concerned that the rise in demand outstrips supply as 'tenants snap up available properties quickly'.  The lack of supply in the sales sector is exaggerating this situation of course and we are encountering a number of rather reluctant tenants who would actually prefer to buy if they could find anything in what are quite Spartan circumstances.

All-in-all, quite a turnaround on all fronts and an opportunity that prospective landlords and vendors alike can now take full advantage of.