Real estate agent Leonard Gibbons says it is much more difficult to get a foot on the real estate ladder in today's market than it was a few years ago.

Mr. Gibbons is agent for South Whale Estate, situated on South Whale Estate in Southampton.

The South Whale Estate was a rare opportunity to purchase three bedroom houses for under $900,000 and lots for under $300,000.

Now nearing completion, the development consists of a mixture of lots which purchasers can build on themselves as well as 14 lots with completed houses.

According to Mr. Gibbons, development of the site started two years ago.

The lots have an average size of 0.3 acre of developable land and 0.43 of an acre of total land.

The lots without houses are all sold. They were priced between $250,000 and $295,000.

Mr. Gibbons said it would be extremely difficult to purchase a similar piece of land for $250,000 today.

"If you know anyone who has $250,000 lots for sale, tell them to call me, I'll buy all of them."

Asked how much you would have to pay in today's market, he said: "There aren't any lots..."

He commented that it did not help that bodies like the National Trust were trying to shut down developer Kevin Petty's plans to develop a site beneath Gibb's lighthouse...."There's a desperate need for housing." he said. Only lots with houses being constructed by the developers are still for sale at South Whale Estate.

One three bedroom, two bathroom house is still for sale at $885,000, but Mr. Gibbons said it was being shown this week-end and was unlikely to be on the market for long.

Other houses being developed will not be priced until they are completed.

"Once the grass is cut twice, then you can put it on the market," he said.

According to Mr. Gibbons, developers prefer to market a property once it is fully completed because then they do not have to custom-fit a property with a purchaser's choice of finishing.

If you were able to find a piece of land, Mr. Gibbons said that in his opinion it would be difficult to get construction costs for any less than $250 per square foot and cracked: "At $250 per square foot, you have got to be married to the contractor, or at least a good friend of his."