The number of valuations conducted only dipped by 4% in April compared to April 2009, according to the latest research by Connells Survey and Valuation.
In fact, in the three months ending in April, valuation activity actually rose by 3% compared to the three months ending in January. There were 43% more valuations conducted than in the same period in 2009.
Ross Bowen, managing director of Connells Survey and Valuation, commented: "The housing market has continued to recover steadily. There were concerns that in the build-up to the election, buyers and sellers would be distracted and sit on their hands - but that hasn't been the case.
“Confidence is returning and this has been helped by marginal improvements in mortgage availability and news of the doubling of the stamp-duty threshold. In the past three months, the housing market has performed better than the same time in 2009."
The strong performance of the valuations conducted has been driven by increased activity from homeowners looking to sell. In the three months to April, there were more than a third more valuations conducted (+37%) than in the preceding three months to January. This represents a 39% increase in activity compared to the same period of 2009.
Ross Bowen concluded: "Election fever hasn't derailed the recovery of the housing market. Consumer confidence continues to grow, and we are in a much better position than in 2009. But we need to wait until the dust has settled after the election to see what new policies will follow, and the role the new government will play to build the market."
