Long-suffering first-time buyer are set to return to the housing market this summer, according to the Yorkshire Bank and some are preparing to use every trick in the book now the tide has turned in their favour.

The Yorkshire Bank's latest quarterly House buyers Survey found that 41% think that now would be the best time in years to make the leap on to the property ladder.

But 31% would consider 'gazundering', said the Bank, cutting their offer at the last minute and forcing the seller to accept the lower offer of face finding a new buyer.

36% of those surveyed feel the market is slow enough to risk offering less than the asking price and 30% think they can now take their time finding their ideal property. A similar proportion feel the market is slow enough to risk offering under the asking price and less than one in five (18%) would seriously consider offering more than the asking price.

Gary Lumby, head of retail at Yorkshire Bank said it was good news that large numbers of first-time buyers were beginning to rate more highly their chances of getting on the property ladder, but he clearly found it disquieting to find them so hard-nosed.

"A worrying proportion of first-time buyers would be prepared to drop their offer at the very last minute," he said, "leaving the seller in a quandary over whether to take the financial blow or to go through the hassle of putting the house back on the market."