Housing market activity accelerated strongly last month, with the volume of residential valuations 55% higher than August and 65% up on September last year.
According to chartered surveyors Connells Survey & Valuation, there was growth in every sector of the market, including buy-to-let and first-time buyers, as well as remortgaging.
Particularly strong growth was recorded in the areas of buy-to-let and remortgages, with 66% and 64% monthly acceleration respectively. First-time buyer activity grew 52% on August, and 54% on September last year.
There were also 46% more valuations for home-movers compared with August – 52% up on last year.
John Bagshaw, corporate services director of Connells Survey & Valuation, said: “September has felt like a tipping point. A year since the first real effects of Funding for Lending, and five years since the collapse of Lehman Brothers, the financial world appears to be at the start of a much sunnier period.
“In just 12 months, the situation has shifted unrecognisably.
“However, if it were not for record low product rates, many families could now be struggling to pay their mortgage. The real question now is how long these excellent new deals can last before the Bank of England decides to raise interest rates.”
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