Our new residential magazine looks at what's happening in your area: 'We foresee a highly active market this year.'

Despite the turbulent economic conditions, last year actually exceeded all our expectations in East Anglia. The autumn market was the busiest for several years, with November seeing over 100% more sales agreed than November 2010. Many buyers continued to view bricks and mortar as a steady investment, as long as sensibly priced, and our network of offices, especially Norwich, Ipswich and Chelmsford, worked closely together to further this.

Our Norwich office sold a wide variety of properties, ranging from £200,000 cottages to country houses and estates, while the sale price of Woodside in Ipswich, put on the market in April, broke the record for the most expensive house ever to have sold in the town. Generally speaking, the £400,000 to £1 million bracket was particularly buoyant, as was the city market, with excellent sales of high-quality townhouses in the centre of Norwich and detached houses in the popular suburbs to the south west of the city.

At the start of 2012, we already have willing and able buyers who are focused on what they want. The economic climate is tough, but there is a market to be tapped into. The good news is that we are proving, time and again, that good houses, presented well and marketed at the right price, are selling, and selling well. East Anglia is without doubt one of the brightest prospects for longer-term growth in the UK. Improved transport links, London buyers, the Olympic Games and an ever more mobile workforce are all keeping demand for housing on the up in this region, and its reputation for value for money continues to grow. Provided prices remain realistic - sellers need to trust we understand what can be achieved and how best to achieve it - we foresee a highly active market this year.

Read the full magazine: &homes - East Anglia