GREEN shoots of recovery have started sprouting across the West Belfast housing market with property sale offices here recording their busiest periods since 2006.

Proprietor of McGranaghan Estate Agents.com, Des McGranaghan, told the Andersonstown News that the property market at present is “just buzzing”

“This is the first time in six years that house prices are actually starting to rise instead of going south and at the minute the average price of a house is standing at £131,000,” he said. “We have had a 16 per cent increase in turnover of houses being sold and we are about to roll out a recruitment drive for additional staff to join our team to cope with demand as the office is thriving.”

Declan Donnelly of Northern Property estate agents says 2014 is already shaping up to be a good year for property sales.

“There is no doubt that we are seeing a growing confidence back in the property market. For the first time in a number of years prospective home buyers are getting over the fear factor,” he said.

Terry Rice from the Mortgage Shop said: “We are getting a lot more calls from first time buyers. We are now selling new-build plans, a trend not seen since 2007. We are experiencing a lot more first time buyers coming in to see our mortgage advisor Daniel Rodgers at our branch in Andersonstown and it’s all positive – it’s all good news.”