DORSET’S property market is showing encouraging signs of revival, according to estate agents.

Nigel Price, chairman of Goadsby Residential, said the firm’s enquiry rate was the best it had seen in four years.

“Our sales enquiries for January are up some 20 per cent as compared to the same period last year,” he said.

“With the very bad weather that we experienced at the beginning of last year we were fully expecting our enquiries for this year to have increased, but we were very surprised by how much and in fact this is the highest enquiry rate on a monthly basis that we have had for four years.

“We believe the reasoning for this increase is a combination of static house prices, greater availability of mortgage products and investors continuing to see property as a reasonable long term investment,” he said.

Robert Dunford, from Tailor Made in Poole, said the weather had also played a part.

“The enquiries have increased, but that’s more bec-ause our walk-ins have increased due to the warmer weather.

“The market is at the point where most buyers are thinking that properties prices are stable and moving into 2013, prices will start to increase.

“Those that are savvy enough will be looking to buy in 2012,” he said.

Paul Neville-Jones, director of Legrand in Bournemouth, added: “Enquiry levels are certainly up. There’s a lack of instructions at the moment, which will eventually lead to price increases because of supply and demand.

“We’ve also got quite a few more investors putting their toe in the market as you get more return in property than you will with any bank at the moment.

“It’s looking a lot better than it was last year.”