For home-owners who are thinking of moving house there’s never been a better time to take the plunge and make an appointment with an estate agent. There are five good reasons why now is the time:

• Interest rates are still very low in real terms. Rates may rise later in the year, though in all likelihood only modestly, but now is a very good time to negotiate new borrowing.

• The national economy is buoyant, confidence is high, and unemployment is low. These things are cyclical and the good times can’t last for ever. There isn’t a downturn on the horizon, but if – or when – one comes it would affect both property prices and the length of time that homes take to sell.

• There are far too few homes on the property market in most parts of Britain. There is a lack of supply in many areas. This means that there are would-be buyers with money to spend but not enough properties to consider. By the late spring this situation could be very different, but right now it’s a seller’s market and well-presented homes are selling quickly.

• There is a chance that later this year, Gordon Brown, having (probably) succeeded Tony Blair, may call a snap election. The property market always slows in the couple of months before general elections as both buyers and sellers sit on their hands and await the outcome. It’s illogical but true. Vendors are well advised to act now … just in case.

• As the media has reported at length, City of London bonuses have been very generous. Although these are only received by a relatively small number of people, there is a trickle-down factor in the property market – and a positive ‘feel good’ atmosphere is created.

• It is still unclear as to what form the Home Information Pack will take. HIP’s are due to be implemented on 1st June 2007 and until a better understanding of how this legislation will effect the market they are bound to have an impact, even if it is relatively short term!

As Michael Fiddes of Strutt & Parker says, ‘There is far less seasonality in the property market nowadays. There was a time when everyone waited for Easter, but these days the market pauses for Christmas and the New Year but is then very active again by mid-January.

‘Buyers like to get the break over and then start looking for their new home, so it’s an excellent point to launch a property. Anyone thinking of selling should act now, while these advantageous conditions last, and there are buyers out there. Summer ‘07 – or even late spring – may be too late.’