The first green shoots of recovery have been seen at Littledales Park in Hartford, and we're not just talking about the flowers.

Whilst the development's famous display of fine Spring Bulbs are starting to burst through the murkiness of the winter gloom…..so is the housing market with Hillcrest Homes welcoming twice as many visitors to the development last month than they did in November and December of last year put together.

Whilst no one is getting excited – just yet – this increase in activity, coupled with historically low interest rates and predictions that 'considerable and pent up growing demand' for property is brewing is certainly enough to put a spring in your step!

This pick up in demand means there are just seven homes and one apartment now available for sale at Littledales Park. Hillcrest has also released Sandiway Cottage, the beautiful black and white Tudor property at the heart of the development, which has been newly restored and is believed to be an ex-hunting lodge dating back to the end of the 18th Century. According to Mike Kennedy, Hillcrest MD, it was never a case of 'if' the market would return but 'when'. He says, “Historically, the property market has always had its periods of peaks and troughs. The need to have a roof over our heads will ensure the market picks up again and, when it does, Margaret Beckett's prophecy of a 'pent up and growing demand' will see stock levels dwindle and prices start to creep back up.”

Sadly, the mothballing of many new build developments is not going to help the market when it does. Already the choice of new build homes available to purchasers is becoming limited and there is a very real threat that a shortage of homes will only add fuel to a future property price hike.

Says Mike, “Its common knowledge that last year saw the lowest number of new homes built since the end of the war and this year will be the same. When you factor in that immigration, high birth rates and longer life expectancy are fuelling an increasing population and that due to divorce and people getting married later in life, there are a larger number of single person households, the evidence suggests we are on the brink of a potentially huge problem. Once people get their confidence back, which they are starting to, there will be a huge demand for homes and those homes will not be available. What few homes are up for grabs will be able to command a premium price.

“The factors motivating this increased market interest are the same as the last time we emerged from a house market slump in 1990; low interest rates and lower cost housing. This makes purchasing relatively affordable, and therefore a more appealing financial option for many both short and long term,” he says.

In response to demand from potential purchasers who wanted to move but still had a house to sell, Hillcrest introduced a unique part exchange scheme, which promises customers a return of the profit on their home if Hillcrest succeeds in selling it at a higher price than the part exchange agreed. A 'try before you buy' scheme has also attracted a number of customers to the development offering them the opportunity to rent the home for up to 12 months before committing to a sale and claiming all their rent back as a deposit if they do.

Says Mike, “The market changed and we have to respond to that by creating purchase assistance packages which will accommodate people's different situations. These opportunities and the fact that now is a fantastic time to buy in order to capitalise on an investment are seeing people slowly dip their toe in the market again.”

Properties at Littledales Park start at £475,000, there is just one apartment remaining priced at £225,000.

A new showhome is open daily (except Monday and Thursday) from 12pm until 4pm. For more information visit www.hillcresthomes.co.uk or call Katie on 01925 269912.

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For more information please contact: Jackie Duffy at Shooting Star PR Tel: 07967 715 773 Email: jackie@shootingstarpr.co.uk