Since the election has been called, and in spite of the Easter break usually bringing a purely seasonal downturn in activity, Strutt & Parker reports that activity continues apace, confounding all expectations.

March 2010 proved to be a fantastic month with the number of transactions up 86 per cent over the previous month, and 40 per cent year on year.

Too good to be true? Recent months have seen the emergence of a number of hot spots where properties have been selling for as much as, or even more than, they would have fetched in 2007. Head of the estate agency division, Michael Fiddes, comments: “Supply of excellent properties has been very thin and buyers have been increasingly willing to pay figures above guide prices to secure the right house. Of late, we seem to be seeing a marked increase in the number of instructions.”

Compared to last year, appraisals are 85 per cent up and new instructions have trebled.

Fiddes continues: “Indications from all our offices thus far suggest that the announcement of the General Election has not had a major impact on activity. "While I am hoping there will be a definite resolution to the General Election – in other words, we do not want a hung parliament as it creates uncertainty - the market is remaining very buoyant in the run up to the election, which we would not normally expect.

"Business is booming. We hold our fifth national Open House Day this coming Saturday and we expect it to be as busy as previous events. All signs are that the market will remain buoyant throughout the summer months.

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