Christmas could come early for
homeowners in Coventry and Warwickshire as house prices buck tradition
and continue to rise in the run-up to the festive period.
Normally prices dip at this
time of year as the market cools down with the approach of winter.
But the latest housing report
from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors forecasts that the
area will avoid this trend.
Some properties, particularly
country homes with land, could see huge increases.
The RICS report covering the
three months until the end of September, said:
"The period of falling
prices in the region has been short-lived and the market has
turned."
Although sales in the region
actually fell for the fourth successive month, more regional chartered
surveyor estate agents noticed price rises than in the previous three
months to the end of August.
Housing market experts at the
RICS are more optimistic about prices for the second consecutive month
- expecting levels to return to "gentle growth" by the end
of the year.
In August, the balance of
chartered surveyor estate agents in the region noting price falls was
9 per cent. This has now reduced to only two per cent.
Harvey Williams, RICS national
and regional housing spokesman, said:
"Santa could come early
for some people now putting their homes on the market.
“There are definitely
signs that the traditional drop-off of activity as the festive
season approaches may well not happen to such a degree as in
previous years.
"This may well be a
reaction to the recent reluctance of many people to bring their
homes to the market for a number of reasons - not least the
petrol-diesel blockades.
“It may be that they are
now intent on making up for lost time and are determined to sell so
that people can move in before Christmas.
"With the climate
continuing to react to global warming, there is also a distinct
blurring of when the housing market 'season' begins and ends.
“It may now be developing
into a series of 'highs' and 'not-so-highs' rather than peaks and
troughs.
"But,
it does not really matter if it is snowing on Christmas Eve; if
housing market conditions are right - low interest rates, mortgages
and a wide choice of affordable properties - then deals will still
be done."
