Buzzing builders and buyers

REPORT HEADLINES Rightmove: “House prices close to all-time high – will ‘granlords’ drive them higher?” Home.co.uk: “Home prices take a spring leap.” NAEA: “A third of all house sales made to first time buyers.” RICS: “Steadier demand and tight supply push price expectations higher.” Halifax: “House prices in the three months to March were 2.6 per cent higher than in the previous three months.” Agency Express: “Confidence continues.” Land Registry: “The February data shows a monthly price increase of 0.5 per cent.” Kate says: “It’s great to see that we have a much healthier market in 2015. Although most places are still stuck with a shortage of homes, especially versus the number of agents fighting for business, we have a market that is moving, but not ‘too fast’ and not ‘too slow’ at the moment. And better still, it’s being driven mostly by first time buyers getting themselves on the ladder, relieving some of the pressure on rental stock (or mum and dad’s house!). The other good news is that it is driving more sales of new builds. I haven’t seen so many new build sites buzzing with activity as I travel up and down the country since the start…