20 January 2009 Credits: skynews.com
Green Shoots In Housing Market

Housing Minister Margaret Beckett claims there are signs of an "upturn" in the property market despite figures showing prices are still plummeting.

A recent survey found a lot more buyers are now registering with estate agents

In an interview with the Sunday Times, she even expressed concern about the dangers of a new inflationary bubble in house prices once the economy picks up.

Her comments risk igniting a new political row after Business Minister Baroness Vadera's claim last week that she could see the "green shoots of recovery".

Following her remarks, Gordon Brown was forced to step in and declare the Government was "never complacent" about the economy.

There is now considerable pent-up and growing demand for houses.

In her interview, Mrs Beckett said that there were recent "indications" that interest among homebuyers was picking up, despite the crash in property prices.

"We're hearing indications of certainly a maintenance of customer interest, possibly even a bit of a pickup," she said.

"Some people have been saying the appetite to buy has gone through the floor, but clearly we've had this anecdotal evidence of a bit of an upturn in interest."