Estate agents positive about UK property market prospects

The UK property market has experienced a "jump-start" to the year, with estate agents hopeful that the increase in activity will continue throughout 2011. According to a survey conducted by the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA), 59 per cent of those surveyed said that they had seen an increase in the number of house hunters looking to buy property in the UK during the first two weeks of the year. This was counterbalanced by a rise in the number of potential sellers signing up to agents over the same period, NAEA said. "The results of this latest survey would seem to indicate a renewed confidence in the housing market as we begin 2011," said NAEA president Mike Jones. "It is encouraging to see that the majority of our agents are noting an upturn on both the buyer and seller sides and those that didn't are still reporting steady figures consistent with January of last year." Meanwhile, a recent report from property consultants Winkworth suggested that the availability of finance from banks would determine the UK property market's recovery.