Brian Holt’s house sales buck the national trend

The Nationwide Building Society reported this week that prices nationally fell by one per cent in March, and said that the end of the stamp duty holiday for first time buyers purchasing properties for less than £250,000 would see a drop in activity.

But Brian Holt’s Earlsdon, city centre and Kenilworth offices are all painting a different picture of the market, with prices remaining stable or rising and in some areas reporting the busiest activity they’ve had all year.

Manager of the Kenilworth office Julie Philpot said prices in Kenilworth for three bedroom semis were on the up.

She added that the impact of the end of the stamp duty holiday would have little effect on the market in town as most of the properties selling for under the crucial £250,000 mark were buy to lets or people moving up the property ladder rather than first time buyers.

Coventry city centre manager David Hives said: “We are actually busier with viewings and offers than we have been all year. There has not been a fall in prices in this area although offers are coming in below the asking price. We are concluding sales and there has not been a fall in prices in real terms.

“Obviously the stricter lending criteria is still making life difficult, particularly for first time buyers and this is resulting in a greater time scale between a sale been agreed and completion.

“In South and south west Coventry prices for buy to lets within half a mile of Warwick University are actually on the rise, while prices elsewhere are remaining stable.”

Earlsdon office manager and Brian Holt director Clive James said the end of the stamp duty holiday was having no noticeable impact on sales and viewings.

Pictured: Julie Philpot, manager of Brian Holt’s Kenilworth office