House prices held steady in Ealing in the run-up to Christmas, according to the Hometrack database.

Buyers paid an average of £277,800 for a home in the borough in December.

The typical flat or maisonette cost £186,600, terraced houses averaged £241,700, semis were £287,300 and detached houses fetched an average of £459,100.

Phillip Harrison at the Acton office of Barnard Marcus says there's now a shortage of property for sale and that's what is driving the market.

"Come the end of October we were running out of property to sell and by the end of November we were selling properties from other offices," he said.

He is optimistic that 2006 will get off to a good start. "I believe there will be an improvement in the next three months," he commented.

"The Nationwide is predicting an increase of three per cent across the country this year. Locally that probably means a lift of between five and ten per cent which I would say is feasible.

"Everyone has a view on what the market is likely to do," observed Phillip Harrison. "It's a bit like being asked to pick the England football team.

"Certainly in the next three months people will take advantage of the shortage.

"It's a good time to put your house on the market."