Estate agents have predicted that house prices in south Essex could be about to level out, despite UK figures forecasting a continued upward trend.

According to the Nationwide Building Society, house prices rose by 1.9 per cent during June, meaning the country was on course for house price inflation of 9.3 per cent by the end of the year.

But the picture is not so clear cut in Essex, where local estate agents report that many sectors of the housing market are now beginning to stabilise.

Stephen Knock, sales manager at Southend estate agent, Sorrells, said: "It's difficult to see how Nationwide can justify these sorts of figures.

"I wouldn't really say that prices have gone up round here, they are still relatively stable. There may have been a slight increase but they are certainly not going up as fast as they were this time last year."

Stewart Thomas, partner at John Fisk which covers Canvey, Basildon and Benfleet, said: "We had a very good month in June, a lot of properties went on the market. If that continues it will help stabilise the situation."

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