Improbable as it may sound, could the election of President Barack Obama eventually emerge as the turning point that the British property market currently so badly needs.

So considers Henry Holland-Hibbert of national property agents, Strutt & Parker. Holland-Hibbert, believes the power of President Obama’s charisma should not be under-estimated.

“I have absolutely no doubt that President Obama’s election has the potential to transform the prevailing mood of America and hence the globe. He’s a good-looking, likable and tremendously eloquent man who very shrewdly campaigned under the slogan “It’s time for change” because he recognised that’s what most Americans wanted.

Holland-Hibbet, a partner in S&P’s Country House Department, believes that nowhere outside the USA is the Obama effect likely to be felt more strongly than Britain.

“I’m not saying that President Obama’s election will have an immediate effect on British property prices – that would be ridiculous. What I am saying, however, is that a couple of years from now we may look back and see his election as something of a turning point.”

Holland-Hibbert points to international polls carried out by the Gallup Organisation, which asked citizens in 73 countries around the world which candidate they would prefer to see in the White House.

“Globally, support for Obama was highest in Western Europe, with his supporters outnumbering McCain’s in countries such as France, Germany and Holland often by as much as 7:1. In Britain, 60 per cent of those polled said they would prefer to see Obama in the White House compared to the 15 per cent who wanted McCain.”

“After eight years of President Bush, I think the whole world – and particularly Britain and the rest of Europe – is crying out for a change of regime. I think the election of President Obama alone will lift the global mood a little but if he can deliver on some of the really pressing issues – the economy, housing, America’s military involvement overseas and the fight against terrorism – then I think his impact really could become significant right around the world.”

“If that does turn out to be the case, then Britain will be one of the biggest beneficiaries. We’re one of America’s biggest trading partners, we speak the same language and, historically, the links between the two countries couldn’t be stronger. Britain is a place that Americans have always liked to visit, work and invest in, so if America starts to feel a better place under President Obama, I’m sure, in due course, Britain will too. In which case, it won’t just be the property market that starts to feel the benefit; it will be right across the board.”