A chill wind blew in from Halifax this week. Just as estate agents and property owners were basking in a warmer atmosphere, the latest monthly house price data from the northern lender showed that — contrary to earlier reports from Nationwide, Rightmove and Hometrack — conditions were cooling.

But fear not. The research gurus at Halifax Bank of Scotland were quick to point out that, at 0.5 per cent, the June fall in house prices was negligible and that further improvement from the average of £157,713 (down 15 per cent in a year) could be expected.

Reports from estate agents around the country are helping to build up the picture of improved confidence and demand — at least, for the right home at the right price. Flawless family homes are generally selling, with demand strong across London, even in “second choice” family areas such as Stoke Newington. In unexpected areas there is even appetite for maligned new-build apartments. The Sovereign housing association has sold 60 per cent of the 48 shared ownership flats in Quay Point, a development in Bristol, pictured above. Inquiries are flooding in at a rate of 80 a week, from buyers enthused by the prospect of a share in a glossy new home for a mere £49,500.

As reported in Bricks and Mortar last week, such schemes are the only resort for buyers without a deposit, and demand is strong. But agents are worried that, unless the supply of mortgage lending is improved, the mini-rally in the market could end suddenly.

Guy Ackernley, King Sturge, Leeds There is no doubt about it: the market has picked up. It is strongest at the cheapest end, under £200,000, where people know there are bargains to be had, and at the top, where there is a flight to quality. Ten units have been reserved in the ISIS scheme, Granary Wharf, in the past four weeks alone. We have a bizarre situation in Leeds where an oversupply was reported, but we don’t have many new-build flats. Most have been sold, or are being rented out by developers.

David Clarke, Strutt and Parker, Ipswich Anything with land is shifting relatively fast. I’ve noticed a move, even in bigger towns such as Ipswich, towards larger gardens where the owners can grow vegetables and keep livestock. There has been a price drop of around 25 per cent across most sectors, although in sought-after villages, such as Glemham and Nayland, it’s more like 15 per cent.

Tim Blenkin, Blenkin & Co, York The strongest market is £750,000 to £1 million, but these properties would have been priced at up to £1.25 million at the height of the market. A farmhouse with a few outbuildings on 10 acres that would have cost £1.25 million at the end of 2006 would now go at £875,000. People know they can afford what was once out of reach: they have been watching the market fall and are ready to pounce. At £400,000 to £500,000, the market is stuck, because buyers have more choice. Buyers are not circling around houses priced at £5 million to £10 million as they once were and when they are they do not know what to bid. Do they offer £5 million and get a bloody nose or bid £9 million and overpay?

Tony Filice, Kelvin Francis, Cardiff There is strong interest in properties priced up to £600,000, which would buy an older four or five-bedroom detached house. We have had gazumping return in special cases where the property is close to a good school or the park. But there is uncertainty among buyers when it comes to properties priced above that. There even seems to be more hope in the new-build market, too, with developers returning to sites that had been left untouched in the Cardiff Bay area.

Jeremy Leaf, Jeremy Leaf & Co, Finchley, North London The market for family homes is the strongest, because of the great shortage of them, but it can be for quite modest three or four-bedroom properties, not the top of the market. Sales of smaller flats are taking longer to resolve, because the potential buyers are less resilient and more worried about finances and their jobs.

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