AN estate agent has revealed how property prices have risen in Bolton during the pandemic - revealing sales of more than £3m.

Bosses at Tanzy’s Properties, on St Helen’s Road, say they were encouraged by the number of enquiries for properties in the town.

Tariq Zarin said: “It was surprising that some of the properties we have been sold at such prices. The Mini Market on Derby Street was sold for £650,000. It was made up of four commercial shops, four flats and a small garage at rear.

“We are delighted to have sold the most expensive property on Derby street in these unprecedented times. The Kurdistan Restaurant went for £190,000.

“Elsewhere in a short space of time we have sold three houses for £200,000 each. There is still a huge appetite for commercial and residential buildings in Bolton. I am not sure how but we are bucking the trend.

“Most of our sales have also come by not marketing that much and we are not on Rightmove or Zoopla.”

The estate agents said they had managed to sell more than £3m worth of properties in under six months. It included three residential properties on Blackburn Road that went for £200,000 each. A stamp duty holiday introduced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak in July will run until March 31 2021.

Tariq said, “There are still a lot of good properties on the market both commercial and residential. I know we are living in uncertain times but businesses and individuals are still looking at properties as a good investment.

“I think the stamp duty abolition has helped many people. It is good time if you have property to sell.

“People are spending more time at home and working from home. And those that would have had their money saved for large weddings and other extravagant events are instead investing that money in properties.

“Quite a few people we spoke to were selling and then looking to buy again next year.”

Tariq said they had already earmarked buyers for some land on a busy stretch of road in Bolton: “There has already been interest and we have not confirmed this as yet.”

House prices hit a new record high for the fourth month in a row in November, according to an index. The average UK property value lifted to a new record high of £229,721 on average in November after jumping by 6.5% annually, Nationwide Building Society said.

The 6.5% increase marked the sharpest annual growth in nearly six years.

As well as standing at a new record high in November, UK house prices had also previously hit new records in August (£224,123), September (£226,129) and October (£227,826). Property values increased by 0.9% month on month in November.