Some slightly conflicting signs emerged from the mortgage lending statistics this week causing uncertainty as to the present direction of residential property prices and the prospect for owners achieving a Quick Property Sale. On the one hand the quantity of mortgages granted was up again to 45,000, however the actual amount of money lent was slightly lower. But what does this mean if I would like to Sell my House Fast?

The reason appears to be that the deposits insisted upon by lenders, many of them insisting upon 25%, coupled with the recent falls in residential property values has engendered a reduction in the amount of cash borrowed despite an increase in transaction numbers. If this is the situation then the current buoyancy about the bottoming out of residential property prices does appear justified, even though it’s still not the ideal situation to Sell Property Fast.

One more reason may be what may be termed the "bargain buyer" effect. Once there is a general belief that residential property prices have hit the bottom, potential purchasers are tempted back into the market to snap up what they believe to be good deals. Some of these might be investors or cash purchasers who do not need a mortgage. In other words there could well be a significant number of residential property sale transactions which simply are not appearing in the mortgage approvals data.

Such bargain seekers will by nature seek out the lowest priced houses in given areas, looking more for value than attractiveness. They will also bargain hard with sellers to make the best possible deal. The effect of this is that the majority of the cheapest properties will be taken out of the market, perhaps in a very short period of time and potential purchasers coming along in a few months time may be faced with a lack|shortage of very cheap properties.

The probable consequence is that in a few months time the stock of available house will comprise of more of the obstinate sellers, those who decided not to drop selling prices in order to "Sell my Home Fast", but who instead stuck to their guns and decided to wait out the present market problems.

This should be noticeable in a short term upward spike in residential property values followed by the much talked about steady increase in line with inflation.

In any event the activity levels do now seem to point clearly in the direction of a stable housing market. The belief is that bargain hunters will now have to get in quickly before a price upturn starts in earnest. Sellers will also start to be bullish about their prospects of achieving good asking prices and will be much more inclined to turn away very low offers, even if they offer the prospect of a Quick Property Sale.

As with any market; values are set by supply and demand. As these levels readjust there can now be said to be clear indicators that the price falls are over and that the market has at least stabilised.