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The property market is recovering and is showing signs that this will continue to be the case, in the short term at least.

According to The Step estate agency in Tyldesley, house prices are on average the same as they were this time last year but the number of sales has dramatically increased, which is receiving positive criticism from analysts regarding the recovery.

Most of the sales in Greater Manchester over the past year were semi-detached properties, which on average sold for £160,242.

Terraced properties had an average sold price of £113,462 and detached properties averaged at £266,175.Greater Manchester, with an overall average price of £154,916, was more expensive than nearby Lancashire (£144,751) and Merseyside (£146,035), but was cheaper than Cheshire (£203,538).

In the past year house prices in Greater Manchester were similar to the year before and similar to 2007, when they averaged at £155,462.

Commenting on this, Janice Harrison of The Step said: “We are experiencing a sharp rise in the number of houses sold in the first half of this year compared to the same period last year.

“We are achieving the asking prices of most of our properties and a small handful have received offers in excess of the asking price.

”According to Janice, this is being fuelled partly by the Help to Buy scheme, which is still on offer to all buyers on properties worth up to £600,000.

“Many people are still unaware of this interest-free loan scheme created by the Government,” she says.

“Buyers need to be aware that this help is there for them.“With large deposits no longer an issue to first-time buyers and with the scheme not necessarily being on offer this time next year, buyers need to act on this now.”

More than 4,000 households in England used the Government’s Help to Buy loan scheme to buy properties in June, the highest monthly total since the scheme began in 2013.

The latest Government data indicated more than 4,300 completions during the month, with more than 27,100 homes bought using the scheme.

If you need any advice on the Help to Buy scheme or would like to arrange a free valuation, contact The Step on 01942 895940 and chat to one of the friendly team.

Alternatively, feel free to call into their Tyldesley branch or visit the website, www.the-step.co.uk. The team at The Step are property professionals every step of the way…