House prices rose for the third consecutive month in June according to the Nationwide house price index. Also, the tri-monthly measure, widely regarded as the less-volatile and therefore more accurate, has now turned positive; with the average house price 0.9% higher in the three months ending June than the three months previous.

However, it is common knowledge that the current positive data is occurring because of supply shortages, and not because of increased transactions that you would expect if the market had bottomed. Even Nationwide admitted in their report that the current level of transactions, at 55% below the long-term average should be overseeing price falls, not rises.

This has analysts worried that prices will fall again in the near future if supply increases, which it may well do on the back of such continued positive data.

None the less, in our opinion sellers, especially those selling so that their family can move into much-needed larger house, must be selfish and think about themselves not the housing market.

If supply does increase now, then yes prices will fall again and possibly quite drastically. But for those who are planning to move in the near future now is the time to sell your house; sell-up now and get a better price than you will a few months down the line.

As we said in our last post, if you don't want to sell your house now because of the price falls, just remember that bigger houses are falling in value faster, so selling to trade up now is not as bad an idea as you may think.

Also the type of massive supply increases that analysts are worried about, will come only if the masses of investors and forced landlords see now as the time to sell. So, regular people selling their house to move, may not put downward pressure on prices. So you get the best price for your home, and then rub your hands and smile when the investors do let go and prices fall again.