If homes appeal to a cash-rich buyer, you have a better chance of selling it in today's sluggish market.

That is according to a new market analysis from Hometrack.

"At a regional and sub-regional level, there are some wide variations in the relative health of the housing market," said Richard Donnell, director of research at Hometrack.

"In normal times, cash buyers account for perhaps 25-30 per cent of the market," said Richard.

"But today's market is not normal and possibly 40 per cent of home sales are driven by cash buyers."

Richard thinks the wide divergence in nationwide statistics - with the average selling price ranging from £160,000 to £220,000-plus - is explained by the fact that mortgaged purchases account for little more than half of total sales, so statistics from lenders are inevitably skewed.

"I estimate that more than 45 per cent of households who own their home do not have a mortgage, but many of this group are aged over 50 and they might only move once in 30 years - unlike younger households and growing families who tend to be looking for more rooms and a better location," he said.

Richard believes cash buyers tend to seek good quality family housing in nice locations; well-maintained period properties in smaller communities as a retirement pad after children leave home; and quality investment properties to earn steady rental income from affluent tenants unaffected by spending cutbacks.

A few cash buyers also trade 'sideways' - for example, buying a home of similar value but with other advantages such as easier accessibility or perhaps daily support, like sheltered communities for over-65s.

Hometrack has also detected more serious market problems in areas dominated by public sector workers who may face the heaviest job losses when government cuts take full effect.

"In the 10 largest public sector-dominated housing markets, the average time to sell is 11.8 weeks," it said. "This compares to 8.7 weeks in the 10 markets with the lowest levels of public sector employment."

On a regional basis, Hometrack says Wales is now the toughest place to be a seller; vendors, on average, have to accept only 90 per cent of asking price, and they take an average 12.8 weeks to find the buyer. But the South East delivers sales at 92.7 per cent of asking price after just 8.4 weeks on sale.