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March 2015 saw the strongest activity for property valuations in any month since 2007.

Activity soared 36% compared to February to make March the busiest month for eight years, according to new research from Connells Survey and Valuation.

The total number of valuations in March 2015 was up a hefty 42% year-on-year.

This is the latest sign that the housing market has started to recover after a slow end to 2014, and unsteady start to the New Year.

John Bagshaw, corporate services director of Connells Survey & Valuation, said: "Optimism looks to be catching, seeping from the wider economy and jobs situation into the property market."

Despite the impact of electoral uncertainty, he said a wider trend of buoyancy is emerging.

"For half a decade surprises have tended to be unpleasant ones, but this spring the housing market is now surprising on the upside."

First-time buyer activity has also risen strongly, with valuations on behalf of new buyers up 33% since February, and 40% year-on-year.

Activity further up the property ladder also grew, if at a slightly slower pace, up 32% on February and 23% over the last year.

Bagshaw added: "New announcements like the Help to Buy ISA have combined with existing government schemes to boost interest from first-time buyers.

"For a considerable time, activity at the bottom of the property ladder has grown faster than activity among households who already own their home."

Remortgaging in March outperformed the overall housing market, up 33% month-on-month and 54% on an annual basis.

Bagshaw said that the continuing fall in interest rates means that many households with a mortgage that seemed extremely competitive just a few years ago are now finding it in their interests to refinance, even to the security of a fixed rate.

"Such a recalibration of the mortgage market is working alongside a resurgent property purchase market to stoke demand for valuations."

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