Now is actually a good time to think about buying a home in Portsmouth

Lizzie Burt, associate director at Chinneck Shaw said the scramble for properties at the height of the pandemic had eased.

“People are no longer putting their property on the market and having multiple buyers offering within days which means buyers have time to view properties and decide which one suits their lifestyle.

“Prices are levelling off as well which means there is no need to worry about buying in a rush to avoid spiralling prices.”

The experts at Chinneck Shaw have found their study of the property market shows that despite turmoil in Westminster there is no reason for homeowners to delay a move to a more desirable property or for first time buyers to put their first foot on the ladder.

Lizzie explains: “Of course affordability has to be the first concern but there are still plenty of mortgage deals available, so once buyers have established how much they can afford they can start looking to purchase with confidence.”

And if people are worried about making an investment as big as a property while there is deep economic uncertainty caused by the fallout from Covid, a war in Ukraine and the unease of the markets, Lizzie points to history.

She says: “In the past there have been property price dips but they have levelled out after a few years and prices have started to rise again. Buying a flat or house is a long term plan to create a home where you and your loved ones can live.”

Because property is more available, the home-making aspect can be put to the fore, where it belongs.

Lizzie adds: “I always say to clients the first thing they should think about when buying is what it will feel like to actually live there. After all, this is a home they are buying.

“That means they should think of location as well as other considerations such as the size of the garden, whether they will be working from home and if they plan to raise a family.

“It would be foolhardy to pretend everything in the economic world is rosy at the moment, but it is feeling more ‘steady as she goes’ rather than panicky."

To find out more about Chinneck Shaw go to chinneckshaw.co.uk