Telford house sales are on the up again

Estate agents in Telford say they are experiencing a big increase in sales as the housing boom continues in the West Midlands.

Property figures are nearing pre-recession levels as the housing market finally recovers, in what is a huge and long-awaited boost for homeowners.

House viewings, agreed sales and exchanges have shot up by a quarter.

And estate agents have reported a "marked upturn" in activity since July 2013.

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It marks a stark contrast from the bleak days of 2008 when the market was brought to a virtual standstill.

For the second month in a row, figures from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors show new sales growing faster outside of London and the South East.

It comes as pressure continues from housebuilders wanting to build on vacant land in Shropshire.

Estate agents in Telford today said viewings were up and that there was a real appetite from buyers, a demand that is encouraging house builders to show interest in vacant sites in the region.

Max Coleman, director of sales at Coleman Estates in Wellington, said: "I am certainly experiencing an increase. We've had month on month record sales since September. Last year was our best year of trading since the compnay was incorporated and we have actually broken that in five months of trading this year so we have got really impressive sales increases."

He attributed the to increased confidence in the housing market, lower mortgage rates, help- to-buy schemes and job security.

Nick Tart, who has offices in Telford, Albrighton, Bridgnorth and Ironbridge said: "Generally across our group of offices we would agree that activity levels are certainly better – and we have seen that over the last 13 to 14 months.

"It's very difficult to exactly quantify it against 2010 levels but they are up.

"Telford is slightly different as it has a very strong supply of new houses, far stronger than the rest of the county.

"So that does impact on what's happening in the second-hand market. In the other branches houses are steadily coming up for sale.

"But we are not putting on the market the volume we would normally do at this time of year. Spring is prime time for people deciding to move. While there is an increase in homes coming on the market it's not we have had in previous years."

Bill Brookes, chairman of DB Roberts which has offices in Telford Town Centre, Wellington, Oakengates and Shifnal said: " Looking at the first quarter we are seeing increase in volume sales across most of the price ranges of an average of eight to 10 per cent.

"In terms of volume I think we are seeing a 60 per cent increase in this quarter."