A recent survey conducted by Home Sale Network amongst its members indicates that rental properties are in short supply, whilst the number of potential tenants in the market is rising.

The majority of survey respondents reported up to a 10% decline over the last six months in the number of rental properties available on the market. A further quarter of members reported up to a 20% decline in stock levels.

Interestingly, whilst the number of rental properties available on the market appears to be depleting, during the same period nearly half of surveyed Network members saw up to a 20% increase in the number of potential tenants.

As a national network of specially selected independent estate agents across England, Scotland and Wales, many Home Sale Network members like us have active rental departments and are able to provide a good indication of the current rental market trends.

With the reported decline in available properties to rent, we encourage anyone who has a property to let to contact us today.

Through our membership with Home Sale Network, we have access to potential tenants moving into the Wellingborough and Irthlingborough areas, providing an additional avenue to our local landlords at no extra cost. So whether you are an experienced buy-to-let investor or have one property to let, get in touch.

It may be chilly outside, but in the 2012 property market, things seem to be hotting up, with a recent Home Sale Network survey carried out amongst its members indicating an increase in both buyer enquiries and sales instructions.

A staggering 90% of respondents have seen an increase in the number of buyer enquiries and instructions in January 2012 compared to December 2011. In fact, the majority of members surveyed (38%) said that they have seen over 50% more instructions; suggesting, that as we progress into 2012, lots more people are deciding to enter the sales market.

Survey results also indicated that over half (51%) of respondents reported the trade up purchaser as the most common buyer type at the moment. This would appear to indicate that despite the challenges in the mortgage market, stable property prices are attracting those who have the ability to purchase. Also cited by a fifth of member respondents as the most common buyer type was the buy to let purchaser – great news for prospective tenants who are currently outnumbering landlords in the UK rental market.

So whether you’re buying, selling or renting, get in touch with us. As members of Home Sale Network, we’re part of a national network of handpicked, independent estate agents across England, Scotland and Wales and are your Local Expert for buying, selling and renting property in East Northants.

We are supporting the campaign to raise the huge sum of £450,000 to send five-year-old Niamh Curry to America for cancer treatment.

We have been approached by a member of staff from her school, Little Harrowden Primary School, to help raise awareness and money to fight the aggressive cancer neuroblastoma.

Niamh is a local Wellingborough girl and needs to go Philadelphia, USA for life saving treatment and we as a local business want to support her and her family in their quest.

To support Niamh, please visit www.niamhsnextstep.com or donate at www.justgiving.com/littleharrowdenmidnightwalk

Time is running out for First Time Buyers to take advantage of the Stamp Duty Exemption or “Stamp Duty Holiday”.

At the moment First Time Buyers can buy a house upto the value of £250,000 and will not pay any Stamp Duty at all.

After the 24th March 2012, the duty will revert back to the normal level of 1% of the purchase price on properties between £125,000 and £250,000 and the 3% on purchases over £250,000.

With almost two months to go, First Time Buyers should not lose this opportunity to save money.

A recent survey conducted by Home Sale Network amongst its members indicated that the number of buyer enquiries and instructions in December 2011 increased when compared to November 2011.

72% of the Network’s survey respondents saw up to a 20% increase in the number of buyer enquiries in December 2011 compared to the previous month. During the same period, 71% of respondents saw up to a 20% increase in the number of instructions and a further fifth (20%) of responding members saw up to a 40% increase.

As a national network of specially selected independent estate agents across England, Scotland and Wales, Home Sale Network is able to provide a good indication of the number of buyer enquiries and instructions in the current market.

It’s encouraging to see that the majority of Network members reported a monthly increase in the number of buyer enquiries and instructions in December 2011. And indeed, here at Richard James we’re seeing that positive market activity continuing into 2012 as well.

Despite the current economic climate, there’s at least some good news for buyers and sellers this Christmas, with a recent survey carried out by Home Sale Network amongst its members indicating that the New Year is a good time to sell. Bah Humbug?? Not according to the vast majority of Home Sale Network estate agents, who took part in the survey.

Due to the continuing low interest rates, 95% of Network estate agents state that early 2012 is a good time to sell your property. Indeed, ALL survey respondents believe that interest rates will continue to remain low during the first quarter of next year, so if you’re thinking of selling, contact us for a market appraisal.

And for all those first time buyers out there… make sure you don’t miss out on the Stamp Duty holiday that is due to end on 24 March 2012. Giving first time buyers a reprieve from the 1% levy on properties purchased for £250,000 or less, the holiday is a good way to save a few pounds when buying your first home.

So whether you’re buying, selling, relocating to another part of the UK, or just thinking about entering the market, contact us today. As members of Home Sale Network, we’re part of a national network of handpicked, independent estate agents across England, Scotland and Wales and are your Local Expert for buying and selling property in Wellingborough, Irthlingborough and surrounding areas.

The winner of our recent school drawing competition, Leotel Etemgememg met The Mayor of Wellingborough, Councillor Bhupendra Patel at our office today, where she was presented with her prize.

The Evening Telegraph also attended to photograph and report the event. Her winning drawing will now be used on leaflets and website marketing in the new year.

Furthermore Leotel earned her school, Oakway Junior School the sum of £250 towards school funds and the headteacher Richard Tester accompanied her to collect the cheque.

This competition has been fantastic in engaging with schools from around the town and we congratulate Leotel and all the children who entered for making it a success.

The Mayor of Wellingborough, Councillor Bhupendra Patel popped into our office today to judge our School Childrens Drawing Competeition.

Children from schools in the town were invited to draw a house in either a Winter or Spring scene. The Major chose a Spring Drawing by 10 year old Leotel Etemgenemg from Oakway Junior School as the winner.

Leotel and her Headteacher Mr Tester have been invited to our offices to formally meet The Mayor and have photographs taken by the Evening Telegraph Newspaper.

The winning drawing by Leotel will be used in our forthcoming marketing campaign on flyers and websites.

We thank all the children who entered the compeition; but unfortunately there can only be one winner

The shortlist of drawings from local schools are currently being displayed in our office window at our Wellingborough office.

The Mayor of Wellingborough will judge the competition and select a winner from the shortlist on Monday 12th December. On the 19th December the Mayor will meet the winner at our office for a photoshoot and a cheque for £250 will be handed over to their school. The winning drawing will then feature in our forthcoming marketing campaign.

If you know a child who has entered the competition, look in our front window over the next few days!

Negotiator Rachael Haseldine has this week celebrated ten years of service with the company. She joined us in 2001 after spending two years with another estate agent but then quickly moulded herself into the “Richard James way of doing business”.

She is a well-known face in the local area and over the past ten years has helped many families move more than once. People tend to find it reassuring when they move several years on and still deal with the same agent who sold them their property.

It is great to have possibly the best Estate Agents in the local area working for the company and Rachael’s ten years of service have helped to elevate us to the leading agent in the area which was affirmed last month when we won the accolade of” Best Agent in Central England” at the Home Sale Network Awards dinner.

Rachael is the second member of staff who has completed ten years of service this year following colleague Chris Wise who made the ten year milestone in January. This business is a “people business” and we feel we can boast, our people show great loyalty and commitment to their work.