The high point of 2012 is more to do with sport than real estate, for most property auctioneers. In a market where buyer confidence is king, everyone is hoping for a boost in the summer, as the London Games provides a mini boom.

Strettons celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2011.

Bankers and politicians may be running a bit short, but that is not denting the spending power of the world's billionaires. Global wealth has increased in the past five years, with the number of billionaires increasing by 20 per cent in the past year alone.

Allsop is claiming Ireland's largest property auction, held in Dublin at the beginning of December. Some 108 properties were offered to a packed room of domestic and international buyers. At the halfway point, around 1,600 bidders had attended and 31 properties received remote overseas bids. At time of writing, 99 lots had sold, a success rate of 91 per cent.

Four apartments have already sold in the first week at Aldenham Square, directly opposite Bushey station.

The 47 one- and two-bedroom apartments are proving popular with commuters, offering a journey time into Euston of only 19 minutes.

self-build and renovation projects and is launching the "Your Fusion" marque.

Fusion's Warren Rosenberg says: "More frequently than ever, money-no-object house-hunters are not just looking for a dream home. They are looking for their dream home, one with their thumbprint indelibly stamped into the bricks and mortar of the property and the very soul of the place.

You get 57 varieties of lot at auctions these days. Gone are the sales when you would expect to find just the typical auction fare of receivership properties and ground rents.

Acuitus's October auction raised a total of £26 million from 40 properties.

More than half of the 25 apartments at Wheston Lodge, in Woodside Park, north London have sold in just three months. There is a choice of one- and two-bedroom apartments, including duplexes and penthouses.