Our simple message, at the moment, is: BUY, BUY, BUY

In our view, NOW presents one of the best opportunities for half a generation to buy property, whether an estate at the top of the market, a family home or a letting unit towards an investment portfolio.

If you buy right, of course.  It is absolutely essential that you buy with a firm plan of how long you might be there, how much you want to spend, refurbishment costs and what you want your purchase for in mind.

Standard thinking (IMF, OECD, industry pundits etc) – which for once, tallies with my own! (I have been calling the top of the market since 2005) – is that prices should settle at about 35% off peak value (Autumn 2007). But, of course, there are better deals to be done than that, as prices are driven through the floor of correct value. Due to poor sentiment particularly over redundancies, vendors sticking out for old prices and, of course, illiquidity. The limited number of transactions that are going through tend to be with cash buyers against distress sellers – and for the buyer, the opportunities have been fantastic.

The accepted wisdom is that that the market will continue to fall. But the really wise buy before the bottom of the curve. Purchase below trend, before sentiment recovers and a modicum of equilibrium is restored.

Yields are up, interest rates are low – so it’s not all bad news

If you can find the property you are looking for, there are deals to be done NOW. Little competition, willing sellers – what more do you want?

Our advice is get into the market NOW – even if you have a house to sell – get active NOW. Put yourself in the game now – when the market picks up, it will be too late to bag a bargain.

And if you can find what you are looking for, strike NOW.