Confidence returning to housing market, says Rightmove

North West house prices rose by 1% between March and April this year according to the online estate agents' portal.

The average price paid for a house in the North West rose from £142,380 in March to £143,745 in April.

Comparison with last year is still negative with an average price in April 2008 of £159,116, nearly 10% above today's level.

Rightmove said in its analysis of the monthly figures: "For the third consecutive month new sellers have raised their average asking prices, this time by 1.8% [UK average]. It could be argued that one or two months of rises is the result of traditional spring optimism and volatility caused by low volumes but three months in a row and the largest rise for 14 months may indicate that we have finally reached a price floor and confidence is starting to return."

The number of new sellers on Rightmove in April 2009, whilst still down 19% on April last year, at 22,260 a week, was up 13% on last month.