Birmingham's biggest residential and commercial property auctioneers say there is now hard evidence that interest is returning to the market following their latest sales.

The Bigwood auctions at Villa Park realised more than £9.3 million in selling just over 75 per cent of its 105 lots - with these figures expected to increase post auction towards £10 million.

Many properties did not have to go under the hammer.

A Staffordshire mansion house near Lichfield incorporating a detached house and six industrial units sold prior to auction around its guide price of £600,000.

Bigwood director Ian Tudor said: "Packington Hall, which in recent years has been an office and industrial complex, is to be restored and returned to a private dwelling.

"We understand its gardens will be tastefully landscaped and the industrial buildings removed.

The Bigwood catalogue included five pubs and hotels, in various parts of Birmingham and the Black Country, some still in use as licensed premises and these were all snapped up.

Outside the region, the Three Horse Shoes in South Cornelly, South Glamorgan, was sold prior to auction close to its guide price.

Mr Tudor said: "Bigwood Auctions has a 100 per cent record in 2009 of selling public houses that have come into our catalogue."

The market was also coming back, he said, into retail premises in Birmingham and the Black Country, especially in secondary shopping parades including those in need of modernisation.

"We sold two lots in Yardley Wood and Dudley with living accommodation which had generated a lot of pre-auction interest and the Dudley property exceeded its guide price by more than £17,000.

"Higher up the scale a large retail shop on a busy parade with a two-bedroom investment flat on the Stratford Road, Sparkhill, sold in keen bidding for £250,000.

"We were also delighted to dispose of several industrial units in Birmingham and the Black Country which a year ago would not have been expected to attract much interest.

"Notable among these was a 3,500 sq ft factory commercial unit in Tat Bank Road, Oldbury with a yard and parking which exceeded its guide price of £70,000.

"Commercial sales at the lower end of the market are hard evidence that the market is returning in this sector and we believe it is likely that access to bank funding may be partly responsible for the new interest."

A prediction by Ron Darlington, joint head of auctions at Bigwood, that there would be lively interest in four residential institutional buildings turned out to be correct.

Mr Darlington said: "We sold three of the four lots and each one achieved way over its guide price.

"The Victor Yates Home, Camden Street, Hockley, a 50-bedroom care home set in 1.37 acres, sold for £745,000 against a guide price of £425,000 and a former six-bedroom children's home with two flats in Sutton Road, Erdington achieved £425,000 against a guide of £325,000.

"The third property, a 15-bedroom former care home in Kingsbury Road, Erdington, was sold well above the guide price prior to auction.

"Many Birmingham and Black Country commercial and residential properties that did not go under the hammer on the day remain the subject of strong interest.

"We are delighted confidence has returned in the West Midlands, with auctions rather than private treaty leading the return to better times."

The next Bigwood auction is on December 10. To order a catalogue contact Bigwood at 51/52 Calthorpe Road, Birmingham B15 1TH or call 0121 456 2200.