The market is very strong — prices are not rising as strongly as last year, but many sellers are getting more than the asking price, and there are still a lot of investor inquiries from all over the country

In Jesmond and Gosforth up to seven buyers are bidding on £700,000-plus homes. There's been a dramatic boost in confidence and oersona wealth. Prices are rising

BRISTOL AGENTS SAY

Buyers are competing for houses, which means sales well above asking price. Stock is short and that's creating a mini boom — when more property comes on this will stabilise

Homes that tick all the boxes are generating huge interest and even getting in excess of guide price —but for less impressive houses, buyers are not rushing in at silly levels

NEWCASTLE: Gosforth, close to High Street and good schools. Six-bed, three-storey home with garden on a leafy residential avenue. Price: £475,000. Contact: Sanderson Young, 0191-213 0033, www.sandersonyoung.co.uk

BRISTOL: Clifton. Four-floor, four-bed Georgian townhouse about six miles from the M5 and 1½ miles from the city centre. Price: £750,000. Contact: FPDSavills, 01179 100343, www.fpdsavills.co.uk