January property market sees an £11m. increase

HOUSE sales have made a positive start to the year.

About £11m. more was spent on properties last month than in January 2009.

This rise in total spend – up to £29m. – was due in part to increased activity in the island's open market.

Five of the seven top-priced homes sold last month were open market, all at close to or more than a million pounds.

Swoffers managing director Matthew Henry (pictured) said the figures underlined how attractive Guernsey remained as a place to live.

'In both the open and local markets, these figures suggest a very encouraging start to the year,' he said.