Penrith-based housing developer Genesis Homes says this summer has seen a property boom, with July being a incredible month and August looking likely to have followed suit.
The average asking price of a house in the UK was £260,000, prior to the pandemic, but nationally, this has risen to £290,000.
A spokesman said: “For Genesis Homes, initial interest after returning from lockdown in May saw a flurry of activity and an influx of enquiries, website traffic and sales.
“July was an incredible month, and August is following suit, even when compared with the heady days of January and February and the buoyancy of the market following the agreement over Brexit.
“The announcement of a stamp duty holiday on 8th July, and interest rates at an all-time low, are keeping the market buoyant, and considering we are in the summer holiday months, when traditionally people are away and less likely to be buying property, it is unprecedented.”
Nicky Gordon, managing director of Genesis Homes, added: “We have certainly had a busy couple of months and that’s increasing day-by-day.
“Our web traffic in July was up by 30 per cent, compared to the same period 12 months ago, and the same for actual enquiries, which is a welcome, yet much needed boost for the industry.
“August is looking even better with nearly double the number of visitors. We are seeing a lot of new users visiting our website too.
“We are seeing a real demand for properties in rural areas which is where Genesis Homes builds most of its developments.
“When you combine the stamp duty holiday and low interest rates to the sought-after Cumbrian countryside, you’ve got a winning formula for both buyers and investors.”
