Encouraging Signs For Leeds Property Sales Market

According to Andrew Hardisty, owner of estate agency Waite & Co, there are positive signs that the Leeds property sales market is on the up. He says that homes in the £200,000-350,000 range and those in North Leeds are selling well. Apparently even the first-time buyers market, which has been really struggling in recent years, has experienced a growth spurt.

Hardisty said, “We had a slower start to the year than we would have liked. We were getting a lot of viewings but subsequent offers were quite low.

“But as we moved through spring the offers seemed to improve a bit and were closer to asking prices.

“As we have moved to June and July, thanks to the confidence from seeing properties coming to market and being sold, things have got better.”

Mr Hardisty warned that sellers still have to be sensible about house prices as the market is still “price sensitive.”

He commented that properties in Horsforth, Otley, Menston, and Guiseley are selling particularly well for them. Family homes are good sellers, with particular amenities playing a large role in the popularity of certain areas. He said, “Schools are a very big driver for moving people into an area.”

Hardisty was unequivocal in his views on the importance of first-time buyers, saying, “First-time buyers are a fundamental part of the market. Without them the rest do not move.”

Given this, it is very good news indeed that first-time buyers are starting to get a firm footing on the now notoriously slippery first rung of the property ladder. Hardisty believes this is partly due to more accessible mortgage provision than has commonly been the standard in recent times. But also many first-time buyers are receiving support from the bank of mum and dad.

Dacre, Son & Hartley have also noticed some positive trends in the Leeds property sales market, saying homes under £200,000 are proving popular in the areas surrounding Guiseley and Baildon, and are now experiencing a shortage of properties in this category.

Gemma Hayton, who is in charge of the Guiseley office, said, “There’s a lot of speculation at the moment about apartments and homes that appeal to first-time buyers being slow to sell but this is certainly not the case.

“There are plenty of buyers out there waiting for the right property to come along that’s well presented and realistically priced.

“In addition, lots of landlords are currently adding to their portfolios and looking for homes that offer good rental potential. This often means being close to rail links and good local amenities and both Guiseley and Baildon tick all of these boxes.

“More than half of the properties that we’re currently selling are priced below £200,000 and this is resulting in a shortage of properties in this sector of the market throughout Guiseley and Baildon so we’re actively looking to bolster our stocks in both towns.”

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