Property Today

Well the reality is that we are more similar than we like to admit, according to some new research that's just been released.

The Building Societies Association, which is the trade association for the UK's building societies, has released its House Price Expectations report. And within, it reveals there are five distinctive personality types that people fit into when they are trying to find a property.

Have a look through these, and see which one is you.

1. Aspirant fledglings
You're probably renting at the moment, but you're sick of it and want to get onto the first rung of the property ladder. In fact, you see renting as a waste of money, and that's what pushes you to go out and find a property you can buy. You are optimistic about the market and house prices, even though most homes seem out of your reach. Because you have no experience of spending tens of thousands of pounds in one go, you are more likely to get help from friends and family. And you also hunt out property websites, TV programmes and any information you can find in your local newspaper. Something inside you says that if you don't find a property soon, you will "miss out" and may never get that dream home.

2. Been around the block
Experience is everything for you. You don't pay much attention to media stories about the housing market, preferring to draw on your gut feel and experience from previous moves. You are quite realistic that house prices could fall. For you, the value of owning your own home is more important than making money from it. The fact that you already own property gives you immense peace of mind and satisfaction that you won't be left behind, no matter how much house prices rise.

3. Savvy long-haulers
You're a property investor and you're in this for the long-term. When you had some cash to turn into a nest egg, you looked at the options, and worked out that property letting was the best option for you. You're probably looking to find a property to help fund your retirement. You give a lot more consideration to the timing of your purchase. And media reports have little effect on you. Instead you're like a hawk watching local property price trends, to ensure your investment is on track. Most investors are like you.

4. Bandwagoneers
Be honest – you bought a buy-to-let because you saw lots of your friends do it. Or you watched someone make a fortune on a TV programme despite ignoring the expert's opinion, and you wanted a piece of that. Now you are easily bothered by negative media reports about the future of house prices. There are lots of people who had the desire to invest in property like you; what makes you different is that you actually bought a house. But overall there aren't many investors like you.

5. Wallflowers
It's possible that you fall into one of the other groups when you go out to find a property, but at the moment you are sitting on the sidelines doing a lot of thinking. You're considering when to buy a house, and keeping a look out for any hint of a price drop, in case that opens opportunities for you. You probably think most homes are over-priced, so you won't see cheaper property as a bargain. However you are a realist, and know that prices are more than likely going to continue rising in the next year.