Hopes increase for housing market

Estate agents are selling an average of only nine houses a month

The housing market in Devon and Cornwall is showing "possible signs of improvement" surveyors said.

Sales were static for three months up to January, says the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

But the South West branch said there has been a "significant upturn in activity during early 2009".

Roger Punch, of RICS South West, said there was no rush to buy, but sales were "starting to move in a more encouraging direction".

'Appealing investment'

He added: "Buyers who have been either sitting in rented accommodation, or are able to proceed without selling, are feeling that now is a good time to enter the market."

The average number of house sales per estate agency in the South West over the last three months remained static at nine.

This is compared with an average of 9.9 across the UK, a drop from 10.1 in December.

Bur Mr Punch said that while house prices may not have settled just yet, "some are possibly at their lowest point".