BARRATT North East has reported a strong sales performance in the first three months of the year, adding to hopes that the worst of the economic news may have passed.

The company has already sold more than 100 new homes in 2009 and says its sales success is down to a choice of locations and designs, competitive prices and deals to suit all kinds of buyers.

Visitor levels – a reliable indicator of how many people are planning to buy a new home in the next few months – at the company’s 15 developments are up by 25% in 2009, compared with 2008.

The news comes on top of a number of indicators that the wider economy may have turned a corner.

Bank of England figures showed that mortgage lending had increased by 19% month on month. And the Nationwide Building Society released figures showing that house prices had risen for the first time in 16 months.

“We have seen a strong performance in terms of the number of homes sold and visitors to our sites in the last few months as more and more people realise that now could be the time to buy,” said Fenton Hewitt, Barratt North East sales director.

“At our Melbury development in Gosforth, for example, buyers have snapped up £2m worth of luxury homes in six weeks.

“If you are a first-time buyer you could move in for just 70% of the price under the HomeBuy Direct scheme, which we operate in conjunction with the government.

“And homeowners who want to move to a bigger property can take advantage of our part-exchange service, so they don’t have to worry about finding a buyer for their place.

“We are offering some of our best ever deals but they can only be available for a limited period. I’d advise anyone who is interested in a great new home to talk to us soon.”

Barratt currently has homes available across the North-East at prices ranging from £115,000 to £350,000.

For further information, call 0845 60 49 345 or visit www.barratthomes.co.uk