Leading Kent estate agents Ward & Partners has given a qualified welcome to the announcement that the temporary £175,000 Stamp Duty threshold is to be extended until the end of the year.

"There’s certainly a great deal more that could have been done to stimulate the housing market," said managing director David Lench, who expressed disappointment that once again, the Government had shied away from a thorough overhaul of the entire Stamp Duty system in last month’s Budget.

"Nevertheless, in those parts of the county where you can still buy something for £175,000, this measure still equates to a saving of £1,750, which is not to be sneezed at if you’re a hard-pressed first time buyer."

But, much more important than any specific Budget measures – or the lack of them – is that there are now undeniable signs that the end of the run of bad news for the property market is in sight, Mr Lench said.

"It isn’t just wishful thinking any more. There is definitely a new feeling of confidence in the market," added Mr Lench. "Estate agents, chartered surveyors and even lenders are all beginning to talk about increased levels of activity and prices bottoming out."

And Ward & Partners' own experience since the start of the year bear this out, added Mr Lench.

"We have been fantastically busy. Compared to the last quarter of 2008, the first three months of 2009 saw an amazing transformation. Applicant registrations, viewing activity and numbers of offers were all way up, and this trend is continuing.

"What's more, contrary to what many people still believe, there isn't necessarily any shortage of funds. In the first three months of 2009, we successfully arranged 40 per cent more mortgages than in the last quarter of 2008."

The message to homeowners wanting to sell is clear, said Mr Lench: "The buyers are out there again, in large numbers. For anyone who has held back over the last year, now is a great time to put property on the market."