THE average asking price in the South East is £204,639, according to the website, rightmove.co.uk.

It also reveals that semi-detached properties have increased by 23.6 per cent so far this year.

The research claims it has been a mixed year for the South East, with two aspects playing an integral role in the housing market.

Firstly, there has been an increase in demand caused by the mini exodus from London. This has increased demand in the home counties as buyers look to invest in more affordable properties as the London market becomes over priced. The second issue has been the general drop off in demand for properties at the top end of the market. The top of the market is out of the reach of most buyers. The effect this has had in the South East has been plain to see, as the expensive areas such as Berkshire and Surrey have reported some of the slowest growths in average asking prices over the last year.

Over the last month all types of properties in the South East suffered a decrease in average asking price. The 1.84% decrease in detached properties is indicative of how that part of the market has performed in recent times. The cooling off in the last month is typical of the market at this time of the year, as buyers are put off by the prospect of moving over the Christmas and New Year. The market as a whole remains fairly buoyant, and with record low levels of interest rates and low unemployment, there is no evidence to suggest that this is the end of the current housing market boom.

Alan Gottschalk, regional director of Connell’s estate agents, said: "The market remained buoyant in October, with applicant registrations remaining high. The main change we are seeing is that it is taking slightly longer to sell certain types of property. Good quality homes, especially the three bed semi detached and four bed detached are still as in demand as ever.

“Kent has been the main beneficiary of price rises. The county as a whole has excellent employment prospects, and the excellent rail links into London Bridge Station and London Victoria are leading to more and more people moving to areas like Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells, rather than staying in the capital.”