More homes were put up for sale in March, compared with February, but fewer For Sale boards converted to Sold.
According to Agency Express, a national firm of estate agency board erectors, the number of houses sold last month was 13.7% less than in February, but the number of new For Sale signs erected was up 5.3%.
Although house sales nationally were lower than March, there was significant growth in some regions.
Sales in Central England nearly doubled in March, growing 94.7%. The West Midlands was up 13.2% followed by the East Midlands with a 10.6% increase. Several regions had their highest level of house sales for a considerable time. London hit its highest level since October 2007, the East Midlands and the South-East had their best months for house sales since April 2008, and Scotland had its best month since May 2008.
Stephen Watson, managing director of Agency Express, said: “Although house sales nationally are down on February, it still bodes well for a good spring. February was a bumper month because the bad weather in January subdued activity.
“Both London and the South-East had growth, which is a good sign for the rest of the country, as often activity here triggers activity in the rest of the country. Perhaps the most significant sign of optimism is the number of For Sale signs that were erected in March. Not only was it up on February, but year-on-year it has grown by just under 40%.”
Central England again led the way for the highest increase in properties being put up ‘For Sale’ in March with a rise of 120.9%. Next came London (19.5%) followed by the North-East (12.6%), Scotland (10.2%), the South-East (7.5%) and Yorkshire (7.2%).
Bristol had the biggest rise in houses being put on the market with a 26% increase ahead of Southampton with 12.5% and Norwich at 12.4%, York and Newcastle at 10.7% and Leeds at 10%.
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