First-time buyers eager to make a purchase have been advised that they should act swiftly while market conditions are favourable.
House prices have been falling in recent months, and fewer people are now buying properties.
As a result, Carolyn Walsh from Miller Homes believes first-time buyers should buy their first home when they can - and then reap the rewards when the market heats up again in the months to come.
"People may think it is currently not a good time to buy, but when prices are at their lowest and good incentives are offered it is the perfect time to move home," she commented.
"Unless you are downsizing, you never really benefit from the equity in your home, as higher prices apply to the house you are buying as well as selling.
"It is so easy to forget that the property market has proven to be the best investment in recent years. House prices have risen consistently," she added.
Research conducted by Nationwide shows that house prices fell by 0.5 per cent in December.
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