With stamp duty set to return to 1% for properties worth between £125,000 to £250,000 and VAT to increase to 1.75% in January 1st 2010 there is a feeling of uncertainty as to how this will affect the property market in the coming months. When the chancellor announced these initiatives last year, many scoffed that the impact would be too small to be of any significance and that few people would decide to buy property based on these concessions. That being the case, why should the return to status quo disaffect the decision to buy in the same way?

Many also regard the looming general election as cause for uncertainty, yet one thing is for sure: Gordon Brown will not go down without a fight and there are bound to be some short term measures introduced that will stimulate the market in an attempt to win back some of the hoards of disillusioned voters. Enjoy what is on offer with a very large pinch of salt.

Landlords are seeing a return to the good times once again as rental stock falls (as property sales increase) and rental levels hold up. Now would be a good time to invest in a buy to let, with interest rates being so low and very a poor return on investments on offer from the banks.

There is still a shortage of good quality stock on the market to buy and there is an increase of property being marketed quietly. Vendors do not want to air their private business in public and property is a topic on which everyone has an opinion. A for sale board will always generate interest and speculation on the reasons behind the sale, the choice of agent to market the property and the price it is offered at. More vendors are choosing to be discreet in their disposals and want to disclose their intentions only to serious buyers. It can therefore be difficult for a buyer to get access to these properties unless they can prove their intentions are honourable and purposeful. Using a buying agent is a valuable asset in this situation as it proves that the buyer is serious, qualified and determined to succeed in a purchase.

With a lack of supply comes an increase in demand and it is not uncommon for several parties to be competing for a single property. Using a buying agent gives a purchaser a significant advantage in this situation. The vendor knows that the buyer is serious, informed and qualified and against a rival bid that is unsecured it puts the offer in a different league. Buying property is all about confidence both of the buyer and seller and by reducing the number of unknowns in the process, it makes for a happy partnership.