The region’s housing market is showing visible shoots of recovery with a jump in house prices and an increase in people looking to get their foot on the ladder, according to a monthly residential market survey.

Estate agents in Suffolk and Essex have stressed there is still along way to go but the future is looking much brighter for the industry, with people being more motivated to buy properties.

According to the survey for October, released by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), house prices in the east of England jumped again last month and interest from would-be-buyers dwarfed the number of properties coming on to the market.

The proportion of chartered surveyors in the region reporting price rises has hit a seven-year high while the Help to Buy scheme appears to have widened the net of people now in a position to buy their own home.

This, according to the RICS, was also a factor in the demand for rented accommodation dropping.

Charlie Mitchell, head of agency in Strutt and Parker’s Ipswich office, said: “We are certainly seeing a large increase in activity from buyers that are much more motivated.

“Last year people were dipping their toes in the water so there has certainly been an increase from motivated buyers.

“There is a massive buzz that we haven’t seen for three or four years so things are certainly on the up.

“What we don’t want is for properties to jump up too quickly, if they do then you can end up in a bit of a rut, but things are definitely selling and are definitely moving, without a shadow of a doubt – it’s exciting times.”

Alan Williams, managing partner at Fenn Wright, which operates in Suffolk and Essex and contributed to the survey, added: “I think it is a much rosier picture at the moment.

“The whole of this year has seen quite a noticeable turn around in the fortunes of the property market and it is fair to say there is a very healthy level of demand.”

Despite the brighter outlook, the RICS survey has suggested there is still an imbalance between demand and the number of homes up for sale – which they have said needs to be urgently addressed.

Jan Hÿtch, RICS East residential spokesman, said: “If we are to create a more sustainable market, it is critical that many more good quality homes are built in areas where people want to live.”