A NORTH Yorkshire estate agency has opened a fourth branch, this time in Acomb, York, despite reports of a "flattening out" of the housing market in the region.

The family-run Davis Estate Agents, which in just two years has established branches in Harrogate, Ripon and Thirsk, foresees the new branch in York Road, Acomb, as covering both residential and commercial property from York to the east coast, while its Harrogate office will continue to cover from the Yorkshire Dales to Leeds.

Ron Davis whose staff now totals 22 people, including independent financial advisers, said there was no problem about opening a new branch. "The acceleration in house prices has slowed, but across all the branches we have picked up many instructions over the past 12 months.

"The fact that we are also financial advisers means that when times get tough they are called on to help reduce house buyers' outgoings." He said there were other factors which were keeping the market buoyant, such as a healthy buy-to-let market.

"In just 12 months, from the summer of 2003, one lady from Harrogate bought 11 properties through us in Ripon, Harrogate and Thirsk", said Mr Davis.

Another attraction, he said, was the fact that his team of financial advisers was among few who did not charge a client fee when arranging a mortgage.

He said: "We are independent financial advisers who can broaden out our help into lots of other areas of finance.

"We have never charged clients a fee for any financial or mortgage advice. The commissions paid to us by the lenders are sufficient.

"It can save the client in York between £100 and £250."

Mr Davis's wife, Maggie, is in charge of personnel and accountancy. His son, Chris, is the manager in Ripon. Chris's fiance, Fran Hicks, is head negotiator in Ripon while her mother, Hilary Geldart, is manager of the overseas department there.

Fran's sister, Ellie Parsons, will soon be office co-ordinator at Harrogate, succeeding Alison Cartwright, who will now head-up the four-person team at Acomb. In charge of the Thirsk office is Chris Crow, the man who sold Ron his home in Ripon 17 years ago.

Updated: 12:06 Friday, November 05, 2004