They say the so-called buy-to-occupy market among local companies is back in business after a two-year gap.
The return of freehold buyers is being hailed as a sign that business confidence is gradually returning. Experts at Lambert Smith Hampton say that so far in 2009 they have seen 50 per cent more freehold purchases of office buildings by companies - a massive jump from 2008.
They say that one in every five south Manchester office deals is now a freehold office sale.
The increase in freehold sales - prompted by record-low interest rates - is the one bright spot in research which shows that south Manchester's office market is having a difficult year. The total take-up of space for the first six months of 2009 was down by 38 per cent compared with the same period last year.
Total take-up is expected to reach just 400,000 sq ft by the end of the year.
David Thwaites, Lambert Smith Hampton associate director, said: "Activity has been driven by the smaller end of the market, with 85 per cent of total transactions being sub-5,000 sq ft. There have been only four recorded transactions in excess of 10,000 sq ft for the first six months.
"A more positive indicator of the market has been a recent increase in freehold transactions. For the first six months of 2009, these accounted for 21 per cent of the total take up, significantly more than the 11 per cent recorded in 2008.
"The volume of freehold sales is still somewhat less than the 30 per cent or higher figures achieved for several years pre-credit crunch (2004-2006). But with some banks prepared to ease their lending constraints we are seeing increasing numbers of owner-occupiers prepared to take advantage of the many opportunities within a buyers' market."
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