Writing these notes on a bitterly cold late February day, it may seem strange to suggest that spring is on its way but aside from nature’s barometer of snowdrops, daffodils and even primroses and crocuses which are out already, there is also a hint of green shoots in the housing market.

Over the last couple of years there has been an acute shortage of property for sale and particularly so since last summer despite continuing strong demand. At last there are signs that this situation is starting to be rectified and we are being invited out to an improving number of prospective sellers’ homes to provide market appraisals which has resulted in our being instructed to put more houses up for sale. We anticipate that this will become a self-perpetuating exercise as more buyers will be encouraged to search in earnest and in turn put their own properties on the market.

Despite it still be relatively early in the year, we are also seeing increased buyer activity with a rising level of internet visits and direct registrations. This has led to plenty of viewing requests and sales, particularly for realistically priced character homes situated in the best locations.There are therefore grounds for optimism for the property market in 2016 and with Wiltshire County Council finally beginning to tackle the unacceptably long delays in processing Local Authority Searches compared to its speedier neighbouring counties, progressing sales in Wiltshire should hopefully no longer be as slow as they have been.

What might temper this early promise? This can be summed up in one rather unattractive word; ‘Brexit’. Whatever one’s views are on whether the UK should stay in or leave the European Union, it is after all a topic that stirs divisive opinions, the volatility that is already being experienced in the currency and share markets may also spread to the property sector. If one is thinking of moving, there may be an argument for getting on with it sooner rather than later.

Should polls ahead of the referendum suggest a close result, the housing market could be affected by a case of the jitters. Putting aside issues such as sovereignty and border control, a result in favour of a withdrawal may in the short term have an adverse impact on confidence in the UK economy whilst a ‘stay-in’ outcome is more likely to see the property market settle down quickly or even push ahead.

Even if you are bored of the European question already, we in the property World are likely to have an interesting time of it in the months ahead!

What makes the dream village? The answer is of course subjective and will generate varying responses from different people. For some, a large bustling community with lots going on and a long list of amenities is vital whilst for others a small sleepy hamlet with just the most basic of facilities would be the preferred option as long as it is surrounded by beautiful countryside.

For most, the aesthetic look of a place is important and we are blessed in this area for having a number of picture perfect villages full of chocolate box cottages and houses, possibly with a stream or river meandering through it such as at Rockbourne or one of the Woodfords. Perhaps a duck pond like the ones in Ashmore or Sherrington completes the picture. A healthy mix of differing ages and backgrounds of the residents is good as it helps to maintain the social vitality of a community rather than one that is too uniform and staid.

Most people like the idea of a village being somewhere fairly rural but just how rural will depend on many things and for some, the ideal location would be one just two or three miles away from the nearest town or conversely, the more completely away from it all the better. Convenient road links might be all important for example the villages of the Wylye Valley have good access for both the A303 and A36 whilst close proximity to a railway station such as the one at Tisbury could be the deciding factor.

The key features of a village are many but one of the necessities we hear most often is a good pub. Many communities have lost their local in recent years which is sad as they are often a focal point for village life and it is interesting that the residents of Swallowcliffe got together to re-open their pub recently after it had be closed for many years. A village with a well-run inn serving good food will be seen as having a distinct advantage or as in the case of Hindon, better still, two pubs!

Next on the list of must haves would be a shop/post office. Like pubs, these have come under economic pressure and several villages have seen theirs shut over the last decade. What has been encouraging is the number of community run shops that have sprung up across our region including those in East Knoyle to Broad Chalke, Martin and Dinton to name just a few. A good nearby farm shop such as the one at Boyton can also be helpful.

A well regarded school, whether at primary or secondary level, is certainly a draw for some families who will focus on where to buy their next home based purely on the catchment area of a favoured school.

Other things that buyers might consider are proximity to medical facilities, footpaths, horse riding, an active church and availability of sports or leisure clubs such as cricket, tennis, gardening or bridge.

Ticking many of these boxes, Rural View are about to start marketing a super barn conversion on the edge of Semley, a village with a shop/café run by local volunteers, a popular primary school, award winning pub, church, a busy community social programme, tennis club and it is within easy reach of both Tisbury station and the A350 with Shaftesbury just four miles away. Get in touch with Mark or Charlie for more information.

We are pleased to announce that the winner of our Sloe Gin competition is Mrs F of West Wiltshire who will be presented with a bottle of Dorset distilled Conker Spirit​ Dry Gin.

Last year the Chancellor of the Exchequer was the home buyer’s friend when he overhauled the way Stamp Duty on the purchase of residential property is calculated. He is now seen as the pantomime villain with his further tinkering of this already unpopular and insidious tax in the latest autumn statement.

From the 1st April 2016 all buyers of second properties will have to pay a whopping additional 3% on top of the current bands of stamp duty. Whilst those purchasing just their main home, which accounts for the majority of house transactions, will be unaffected by this amendment, anyone buying a holiday home or investing in a buy-to-let property most certainly will be.

Previously buying a £150,000 property would cost the purchaser £500 in tax but in future for someone buying an additional home to one they already own this will be pushed up to £5,000. An owner-occupier buying a £600,000 currently pays a huge £20,000 but from next spring an investor landlord or weekend cottage buyer will have to pay an eye-watering £38,000.

There will be some who will have little sympathy for those with the ability or means to buy properties that will not be their full time homes and who might be under impression that this category of buyer artificially drives up property prices, depriving local people of the opportunity to stay within their local communities. There is more to it than this however.

Second home or weekend cottage owners bring money into the areas they buy in and often employ local tradesmen. As this part of Wessex is such a lovely place to live, these occasional residents often end up moving here full time, disposing of their previous main home in London or wherever. They are very important for house sellers and over the last couple of years have accounted for a significant proportion of property sales in the region. Without them there will be a much smaller pot of potential buyers.

Buy-to-let investor buyers are also important for the local economy and if there are not landlords around, there will not be any properties available to let and for many, renting is a more suitable or perhaps only option. There is the very real danger that landlords enlarging their portfolios will push up rents to cover the cost of the additional tax, surely something the chancellor should have but clearly did not envisage.

The change was intended partly to boost the chancellor’s coffers and also to free up more housing stock for first time buyers however it will actually have ramifications across the whole of the housing sector. Driving away second home/investor buyers by making it financially unattractive for them to buy property cannot be good news for what is already a fragile market.