Released on = May 22, 2007, 1:31 am

Press Release Author = Charlotte Burrows

Industry = Real Estate

Press Release Summary = The proximity of the introduction of home information packs
(Hips) has acted to distort the housing market, it has been revealed.


Press Release Body = The latest figures from online estate agent Rightmove\'s house
price survey shows the average house price in May rose by just 0.4 per cent - the
lowest monthly house price rise of the year.

What\'s more, average asking prices fell in the east Midlands, west midlands, north
and north-west regions of England.

This sluggish market performance has been blamed by Rightmove\'s Miles Shipside on
increasing interest rates and an artificial over-supply of housing caused by the
impending Hip roll-out - and he speculates that this convergence has made the market
particularly unpredictable.

\"It\'s all rather confusing at the moment,\" he commented.

\"The future direction of the market is very hard to read with two external
influences likely to coincide at once.

\"You have the potential of Hips artificially increasing the supply of property and,
within the same month, a six-year high in interest rates potentially depressing the
number of buyers.\"

Hips will be mandatory for all homeowners looking to sell their houses come June 1st
- unless you sell privately or to fast purchase property firm National Homebuyers.
Selling to the UK\'s leading homebuying company means you can avoid the £300 - £600
cost of a Hip.

Director Julian King says: \"We are very aware of the number of people now trying to
find alternative means of selling their property ahead of June 1st.

This could lead to a housing market crash similar to the one in 1991, Mr King
speculates.

\"Current legislation is a mess. It will prevent the immediate marketing of homes -
affecting both buyers and sellers,\" he said.

\"The mandatory requirement to have an energy performance certificate in place will
delay the process by weeks. To make matters worse, there are not enough trained
energy assessors.

National Homebuyers claims that they expect thousands more people to be contacting
them over the coming weeks to arrange a quick sale of their property, regardless of
their reason for selling. National Homebuyers is the UK\'s leading fast property
purchase company, arranging quick sales and sell and rent back solutions for
vendors.

You can contact Natioanal Homebuyers, who guarantee to say \"yes\" to buying your home
at www.nationalhomebuyers.co.uk/index.asp or by calling 0870 979 8118.

Web Site = http://www.nationalhomebuyers.co.uk

Contact Details = Sterling House
20 Victoria Way
Burgess Hill
West Sussex
RH15 9NF
0870 979 8118
Fax: 01444 257333
info@nationalhomebuyers.co.uk