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Although the icy weather is showing little evidence that spring is officially just weeks away - now is the time to think about moving your home out of the winter blues if you are serious about selling.

There is some evidence that more properties are coming up for sale, and in the coming weeks competition among sellers wanting to move could become fierce.

A supply shortage is continuing to fuel the country homes market, according to the latest Country Market Comment - research by The Buying Solution.

Managing Partner Philip Selway said: "A continued supply shortage across all regions means that good houses are selling well under competition.

High end sellers are flooding back to the Prime property market, encouraged by the improved economic outlook and confidence in the long term recovery of the market, says Primelocation.com.

The Primelocation.com Prime Index recorded a 4.5% monthly increase in stock in February and a rise of 17.0% over the past twelve months, taking numbers to slightly below pre credit crunch levels. All but three of the regional Prime markets experienced a double-figure annual increase in stock.

There has been a noticeable uplift in the number of second home-owners and long-term investors in Central London putting their properties on the market with a view to selling before the end of March, according to property consultants Cluttons.

This is due to speculative fears that the Government will be making changes to Capital Gains Tax in this year’s Budget.

The current flat rate of 18% was introduced in 2008, replacing the variable rate linked to income tax rates and taper relief. However, the tax was not mentioned in the April 2009 Budget or in December’s pre-Budget report, despite the fact that changes were announced on most other taxes. There is speculation that as a result an alteration in the tax is likely to be announced on March 16.

Supermarket Tesco is reported to be on the verge of launching a property website.

The site will let home owners advertise their properties for a flat fee of around £200, the Daily Telegraph claims.

An innovative new website dedicated to selling homes not caught up in a property chain, has been launched by Spicerhaart to help people buy and sell realistically priced homes more quickly and efficiently.

Chainfree.com features thousands of sensibly-priced properties from major lenders, developers and housing associations who are not caught up in a property chain with a portfolio of chain-free properties that need to be sold without delay.

A converted Second World War bunker has been put up for sale.

According to agents John D Wood, the Bunker at Trengothal Farm, St Levan near Penzance in Cornwall has recently been imaginatively converted into a secluded and secure country residence.

Inquiries to Property Portfolio Rescue from distressed homeowners remained at a historic high in Q4 2009 - but jumped even more in January 2010 as homeowners in less affluent areas of London and the main Midlands and Northern cities face up to the reality of mounting mortgage arrears and huge January credit card debt.

The latest Property Portfolio Rescue Distress Index produces the following key findings:

There was no major rush to buy in the final weeks of the stamp duty holiday according to chartered surveyors in Northern Ireland.

On the whole, transaction volumes in the Northern Ireland housing market were down in the traditionally quieter lead up to Christmas, according to the Ulster Bank sponsored RICS housing market survey.

December has been unseasonally busy reports property consultants Cluttons.

Traditional trends would dictate that the weeks running up to Christmas offer a seasonal lull in property market activity as people wait until the New Year to sell houses or look for a new home, but this year Cluttons reports a busy market with both buyers and sellers out in force in Central London.