With the general election seven months away, buying a new home in the next few months could be a savvy move says national estate agency Strutt & Parker. There are plenty of houses on the market with owners committed to selling before the end of the year, creating an opportunity for home seekers to buy at realistic prices.

George Burnand from Strutt & Parker’s Winchester office says: “Last November, we had a surge in activity and this month looks like another November to remember in terms of activity and the number of sales being agreed. Simply put, it’s a buyer’s market.”

The NAEA September Housing Market Report recently found that the majority of houses for sale are being sold for under their original asking price.

Stephanie McMahon, Head of Research at Strutt & Parker, says: “It is really not surprising that prices are stabilising after the dramatic price increases seen over the past 12 months. We have seen these conditions before in the run up to a General Election when speculation mounts. It is a recognisable pattern and we do not believe it spells doom for the property market in the long term.”

James Mackenzie, Head of Strutt & Parkers Country Department specialising in homes above £2million, agrees: “The prime country market had lower than expected transaction levels at the beginning of autumn, partly due to the hangover from the Scottish referendum and party conferences announcing the threat of Mansion Tax.

“However, what’s left now is a market that will benefit from committed buyers and sellers undeterred by taxation and motivated instead by completing before the election. Now is the time the gap between London and country markets will start to close. After the election and the market re-stabilises, we predict equity rich Londoners will be more inclined to move into the commuter belt changing the dynamics and with increasing demand putting prices up again.”

George concludes: “If you want to buy a house, now is the time before potential prices increases post-election.”