Hope for Dorset property market

The Nationwide building society statistics revealed house prices in the county were down 15 per cent for the first quarter of this year, compared with the same period in 2008.

That puts the average house price at £209,302.

But while the figures look bleak for Dorset, estate agents in Weymouth and Dorchester say the market is actually picking up.

Anthony Goss, branch manager at Palmer Snell in St Thomas Street, Weymouth, said: “Each month in this quarter has surprised us with how lively it is.

“We are selling far in excess of what we were selling this time last year, to the point where we need more property.

“In the Weymouth area, the future is looking positive.

“We certainly have a buoyant market.”

Despite a local decline, the building society said it was not all bad – on a national level, house prices increased during March for the first time in 16 months, rising 0.9 per cent.

But estate agents claim that does not necessarily apply to Dorset, where house prices remain steady.

Fiona Elder, director of Elder and Froy in South Street, Dorchester, said: “I would definitely say there has been a bounce in that there has been improved activity in March and more sales agreed, but I wouldn’t say that reflects in an increase in house prices.

“I think the more interest generated, the more house sales will be got under people’s belts and that will help the market generally.

“Once the market moves, the whole thing improves, and in due course, prices might improve.

“This is a bit of a kick-start really.”

Nathan Howard, a mortgage consultant based at Mann Country-wide in St Thomas Street, Weymouth, said February was a record month for mortgage business. “This has to be good news,” he added.

“There are a lot of people sitting on the fence at the moment, whether they are buying a house and waiting to see if prices go down, or whether they are putting a house on the market to see if prices go up.”