Increasing numbers of farmland and rural property owners are being enticed to the market following rising land prices in the first half of the year, driven by tight supply and increasing demand.

The higher prices have been confirmed by The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) who have just published its first half 2010 Rural Land Market Survey. It indicates the average value of bare land has risen to over £6,000 in some regions with bare land sales increasing by over 6% in the first half of the year.

With the general trend of supply of farms and estates falling during the first half of 2010 land agents, Fisher German, experienced an increase in the number of high profile estates and quality farms coming to the market compared to the same period last year. Values are increasing due to investors returning to the market and competing with expanding farmers and landowners, providing an incentive for some to sell.

David Powell of Fisher German comments "A recent example we have just launched to the market is the Brecon Estate. This is an excellent agricultural and residential estate on the Welsh borders. It is a superb investment opportunity with a diverse portfolio of let farms and residential property".

David also adds "As well as an increase of farms and land being publicly marketed, it is the number of private sales which has really increased since last year. We have been involved in the sale and acquisition of a much larger volume of private land sales than in the last two years, with neighbouring landowners or investors being the main purchasers, which has satisfied some of the demand".

Fisher German's market forecast expects the growth in farmland values experienced in the first half of the year to continue for the remainder of 2010, with demand still continuing to outstrip any increase experienced in supply".

For more information about Fisher German, please visit their website here: www.fishergerman.co.uk