shipside

For some reason more buyers have cottoned on to the fact that it can be a good time of year to buy, with less competition from other buyers, and sellers typically more willing to accept a lower price," added Shipside.

Mr Shipside said: "However, these better-performing northerly regions are all beating that national average.

Mr Shipside said: "Buyers looking in Wales are faced with newly-marketed property prices that are 4.1% higher than 12 months ago, with the West Midlands at 3.0%, the East Midlands at 2.5%, and the North West at 2.1%.

Years of broad investigation prompted Aquino to say the Golden Triangle syndicate is "persistent" in shipping drugs into the country focusing mainly on "shipside smuggling after authorities became more stringent in guarding airports and seaports."

(So the only means is 'shipside smuggling' where we assess that these drugs came from the Golden Triangle.)

Shipside said it is usual for new-to-the-market sellers to price lower in the run-up to Christmas to tempt distracted buyers.

Mr Shipside continued: "With the year at mid-point the 2018 summary so far is that the chances of sellers finding a buyer in the northern regions seem to have held up very well against the previous year, but market conditions are clearly more challenging for sellers in much of the south."

Mr Shipside also said the market has been "price-sensitive" for a while - and the high proportion of properties having their original asking price reduced suggests some sellers and their agents are overpricing.

Mr Shipside said: "Sellers looking to find a buyer before Christmas have a head start if they are selling a property in these two mass-market sectors, as that is where there is the greatest demand.

Mr Shipside continued: "With a shortage of suitable choice in many parts of the country, buyers are becoming increasingly adept at hunting down property that fits their budget, ticks the boxes on their checklist and stirs their emotions.

Mr Shipside believes more first-time buyers and existing home owners who want to trade up are ill-equipped to cope with current prices, amid stricter mortgage lending rules and average earnings lagging well behind the pace of house price growth.