Location Estate & Letting Agents in Shirley, Bitterne & Southampton - Property For Sale & for Rental, To Let

Southampton Property News.

 With reports that the numbers of home owner-occupiers has fallen to its lowest level for some 20 years, you could be forgiven for being a little pessimistic about the housing market in southampton and Hampshire.

However, when you look into some of the detail surrounding these stats and reports that are often headline grabbing, scaremongering or not aligned to our local market and economy, you can usually find some positives to balance out what is really happening with property.

Here are some positive thoughts:

1.With more people comfortable with setting up home in the private rental market this is fuelling more demand and we have seen this sector grow by over one million homes in England in the last eight years.

Landlords, some accidental, as they couldn’t sell their own homes and those looking for long term investments are increasing in number and re-entering the market in good numbers as seen al around the country and especially in southampton and surounding areas..

2.Buyers who are out there now are at last serious! A great statistic we check is our viewing to offer ratio's and in the last month this has been reduced to an offer in an average of every nine viewings. This demonstrates that locally we have a healthy interest across a broad range of  properties from houses/bungalows to flats and studio's.

3.Treat every viewer with respect. Recently I have heard some negative feedback from sellers, suggesting they only want buyers who have sold their own property to view their property. We should remember that buying a home is a traumatic process. With the current historically low interest rates we have many buyers who see their ideal home and fund the purchase of the new home with  a ‘Let to Buy’ mortgage product releasing the capital of their existing home enabling the purchase without a sale of their own.

We are seeing more and more interest in this type of purchase, so welcome these viewers into your home they could be as hot as a cash buyer!

4.Time on the market has fallen recently – sellers should price sharper to challenge the market and win the competition for a buyer.

If you would like more advice on buying or selling your dream home,or maybe a little help with your next rental property purchase or help with an existing portfolio , please contact us on either 02380 903980 (Shirley Branch) or 02380 434800 (Bitterne Branch).