Summer market shows unexpected activity

WITHIN the latest report from Rightmove that, due to the summer period, asking prices for houses coming to the market dropped by approximately one per cent in August, the message was clear that there are considerable regional variations. Whilst Gloucestershire was not in the top six hot spots for price increases more than double the national average over the last 12 months, there clearly is still a lot of demand and activity for good property which is priced realistically.

August was a surprisingly busy month with more sales being agreed in this month that we have seen in Jackson-Stops for at least five years.

We also saw an increase in those buyers who are moving to the counties for lifestyle changes.

Often moving away from London and the home counties where the property market has suffered most over the last couple of years, these are young families who are willing to be flexible around their working lives in order for them to have a better lifestyle for their children as they grow up.

They also seek to embrace the greater sense of community that exists away from the Capital which can only be a good thing for our villages, schools and local communities.

The demand is unusually spread throughout most price ranges from smaller cottages to large family houses with land.

Stamp Duty still presents an issue for second home buyers and those in the higher value markets but the message appears to be clear that against a backdrop of political uncertainty and unpredictable world events, there still remains a home owners to get on with their lives but not to pay a premium for doing so.