ESTATE agents' diaries are filling with valuation appointments from potential sellers - and the first sales of the new year have already been logged.

But what do Basingstoke agents expect the residential market to do in 2005?

The answer is not to expect any crash, but more of a settled year with no substantial upward or downward movement in prices.

Charlie King, managing director of Carson and Company, said: "I do not believe that prices will crash, but that they will become more stable.

"I certainly do not see any real prospect of property prices increasing by any significant amount in 2005.

"So for anyone selling, there is very little reason to wait around in the hope of achieving better value."

Tom Bateson, local director of Connells, summed up the view of many agents when he said: "The market throughout 2005 will remain extremely price sensitive.

"Therefore, getting the asking price right when the property first comes to the market will be absolutely critical."

He added: "We do expect to see some modest price rises throughout the town of up to four per cent.

"However, as is usually the case in Basingstoke, certain areas will outperform others."

At Chequers, founder Steve Halstead believes a steadier market, with level prices and no jumps in interest rates, could herald the return of the first-time buyer, although activity from company movers, investment buyers and commuters will also create demand.

First-time buyers were also the focus of comments from Michael O'Shea, founder of Keel Barrett, who said: "The prospects for 2005 should be evident this month as this is when a large number of new buyers normally enter the market.

"Given the renewed activity from first-time buyers at the end of 2004, we expect 2005 to get off to a brisk start."

Mark Chubb, a director of The Right Move, said: "We are looking forward to what we think will be a very vibrant property market in the new year as the bottleneck of first-time buyers and home movers realise that prices are not falling and rates are steady.

"Rumours abound of interest rates falling in the new year. One can never be sure, but we do know that the Bank of England is most keen to keep the market ticking over without it boiling over, and this is very reassuring both for now and the future."