1 in 3 house sales fall through nationally - but not at Maurice Kilbride

Business Manager Dan Luke said: "Although significantly lower than the peak seen during 2008, the fall through rate has remained stagnant at around 30% for the past 12 months.

 "Taking out the seasonal variation by comparing the figures for January, it is apparent that the rate has remained fairly constant for the past four years and it is not expected to drop back to the 2006 level of under 15% at any point in the near future."

 Fall Through Rate - Annual Comparison

 * January 2009 - 34.57%

* January 2010 - 36.13%

* January 2011 - 30.72%

* January 2012 - 30.47%

Luke said: "Such a consistently high fall through rate is difficult to manage for a company, let alone an individual homeowner. The most common reason for house sale fall throughs at present is lending issues. Often the problem is not with the direct buyer, but with a buyer further down the chain."

However with only a 5% fall through rate Maurice Kilbride Residential Sales Limited continue to defy National trends. Managing Director Maurice Kilbride has a theory as to why this is " Dan Luke is right that the main problem in the house market is lenders. However there are still an increased number of buyers out there and we have enjoyed a terrific sales period starting back in October 2011 and right up to the end of February 2012. Yes, chains can be a problem over which we have no control, however these national figures could be dramatically reduced if agents were not so keen to treat a property as sold, until prospective purchasers have secured mortgage finance, had surveys and the legal process is well under way. Some agents are far too quick to put a sale through at the earliest opportunity and that just causes far too many fall throughs. A bit of restraint would not go amiss and help reduce these unacceptable levels of fall throughs and the stress and anxiety this can bring to sellers"