The number of For Sale signs converting to Sold was the highest December figure for three years, according to board company Agency Express.
Although sales agreed dropped 26.7% compared with November, December’s figure was nevertheless up 8.2% on December 2009 and 56.6% greater than December 2008.
Encouragingly, December house sales were 32% up on last January’s, meaning the end of 2010 was healthier than the beginning.
It was a similar story for the number of properties being put up ‘For Sale’. Although there was a 41.3% decrease in December compared to November – the fourth consecutive monthly fall – this was in line with what has usually occurred in previous years, but was still 22.5% higher than December 2009 and 37.1% better than December 2008.
Stephen Watson, managing director of Agency Express, said: “Last year was a fascinating year for house sales activity. So many factors have had an effect on home owner and house buyer sentiment that it’s difficult to draw too many firm conclusions about what 2011 will bring.
“However, the contraction in supply of houses on the market could mean a stabilisation of house prices, and 2011 will undoubtedly be another interesting year for the property and mortgage markets.”
