House sales fall as Olympics distracts buyers Ian Perry, RICS spokesperson, said: "Little changed in the housing market last month. Despite the Olympics taking centre stage throughout much of August, it didn't have any real impact on the proportion of sales going through. The firmer August report comes as housebuilders have enjoyed a rise in sales and profits in recent months, with Barratt Developments this week expected to report stronger profits and unveil a special dividend for shareholders. But many housebuilders have mainly seen gains through focusing on building larger family homes in the south of England as they seek to reduce exposure to first-time buyers struggling to clamber on to the ladder. Elsewhere, RICS said the number of new instructions was unchanged on the July figure, while prices continued to edge lower in August, albeit at a slower pace than in previous months. A net balance of 19pc more respondents reported price falls rather than rises, from 23pc in July. London was the only part of the country to report a positive reading for prices, while surveyors in Northern Ireland, the West Midlands and Yorkshire and Humberside reported the weakest readings. Looking ahead, chartered surveyors across the country predict transaction levels to pick up slightly as autumn approaches, with 12pc more respondents expecting sales to rise rather than fall over the coming three months.