People will be surprised but first-time buyers can get onto the property market in Winchcombe and surrounding villages.

These are the words of Adrian Barnes, managing director of Adams Estate Agents in Winchombe.

The sales market has held up well in the Cotswolds in recent months, bucking the trend of doom and gloom often portrayed in national media, says Adrian, who set up his Winchcombe office nearly 20 years ago.

And he said 2012 could prove a good year for both buyers and sellers in the town.

He opened the Winchcombe office, which now has five members of staff including administrator Lindsay Morrisson, in 1993 after leaving a large estate agency chain. He said the town offered plenty of surprises and benefits.

"Winchcombe holds up well even in a difficult market," he said. "With the character of properties, strong sense of community and excellent schooling in the area, we're optimistic.

"People will be surprised to hear there are opportunities for first-time buyers here."

Adrian is fully behind the recent announcement by Shire Hall that £122 million would be pumped into the economy, some of which will be aimed at helping first-time buyers. The majority of the money is from the Government. From April, the council will agree to underwrite deposits so potential owners pay less to secure their first mortgage. A total of £1 million has been put aside for it. First-time buyers would only need deposits of five per cent to agree a deal, with Shire Hall providing a written guarantee of 20 per cent to ensure the bank can access cheap credit and press ahead with mortgages.

"It certainly sounds a good idea and will help first-time buyers who have been faced with the difficult challenge of having to save up much larger deposits recently before they can contemplate buying," he said.

"Whilst many young couples are happy to rent, many would prefer to put down their roots by buying their own place and not have the uncertainty over whether their landlord will require them to move on in six or twelve months."

A £76,000 two-bedroom home, available on a 50 per cent part-buy part-rent with a housing association, is currently on the market in nearby Greet.

However, Adrian said property availability in the area was "tight for young people" and the agency did not have much of a first-time buyer market.

Other offers in Winchcombe and the surrounding villages include a two-bedroom cottage of character for £179,950. In the peak of the market character cottages cost upwards of £200,000 to £250,000. And there are Grade II listed detached properties close to the centre of Winchcombe, which rarely come onto the market, for around £700,000.

"We always see a real upturn in enquiries in January every year and 2012 is no exception for us with fresh enquiries from buyers and sellers keen to get moving this year," he said.

"The property market is very localised so what is reported as the national headline figures on house price movements or market activity doesn't always apply locally.

"I think the Cotswold market will continue to buck the trend and remain steady albeit without any significant price increases in 2012.

"There is still a strong demand relative to supply for property in Cheltenham and the Cotswolds which is why I don't expect any significant price falls. In the much longer term greater confidence will return so 2012 could prove a good year to buy.

"People appreciate the benefits of buying in Gloucestershire and especially the Winchcombe area with its beautiful countryside, character buildings, friendly community, excellent schooling and multitude of good life amenities so I'm optimistic for the future."

Adrian said he believed the positives of 2011 included noticeable easing of tight lending criteria by certain building societies and government and private investment into new homes.

"Prices and sales activity held up pretty well against the poor predictions. There has been some easing of the tight lending criteria by building societies with more mortgage products becoming available," he said. "And realisation that not enough houses are being built to meet demand so property remains a good long-term investment."

And he said demand for renting property remained high. "Rental demand continues to be very strong and we saw a huge December take up of rentals by tenants wanting to be in before Christmas."

He added there had been a change to the agency's sales approach with the embracing of new technology including multiple websites, SMS texting and social media but that the agency had not been distracted from offering clients clear advice. The agency recently joined social networking sites Facebook and Twitter.

Adrian has worked in Tewkesbury, Bishop's Cleeve and Gloucester but has been working in Winchcombe and the Cotswolds since 1988.