A busy Ryedale estate agent is branching out to a new office after less than four years in business.

Mark Stephenson opened in Yorkersgate, Malton in 2002, in partnership with his wife Kate.

Now they have opened a second office in Birdgate, Pickering, as part of plans to grow the business throughout Ryedale.

"Even before we opened the Pickering office we found we were being called more increasingly into the northern Ryedale area," said Mark.

"Pickering has been very good to us and the Pickering operation takes in a big geographical area that will go into the moors villages and heartbeat country, west into the Howardian Hills and Helmsley and surrounding villages."

A local 'Nortonian', Mark began his career in Malton in 1987, then worked for most of the 1990s in York. He moved back to work in Malton in the early 2000s, setting up his own operation.

He feels the housing market as a whole is going through a period of stability.

"People have talked themselves into that stability and levelling off and I don't disagree with that," he said. "Boom and bust in the end does not do many people a great deal of favours."

Mark feels strongly that there needs to be more choice for 'fresh blood' in Pickering, and was disappointed to see a recent application to build a development of flats for young professionals turned down by planners.

"In the southern Ryedale area there is more choice for first-time buyers - particularly in Malton and Norton," he said.

He is keen to hear from anyone, particularly within the Pickering area, who has a land or redundant buildings which could be developed into starter homes. "I feel quite strongly that there is a real need at that end of the market," he said.

Updated: 16:04 Wednesday, February 15, 2006