House prices in Northern Ireland are continuing to rise

Just four of the 20 apartments being built at the Scotts Gate development in Abetta Parade in east Belfast are being put on the market on 29 January.

People started queuing outside the offices of BTW Shiells estate agents on the Newtownards Road on Monday - a full week ahead of the release date.

All those waiting for the release have come well prepared with artic sleeping bags and flasks of hot drinks.

Both Dougie and Alan have been waiting outside BTW Shiells' offices for several days to secure the apartments for other people.

It's only going to get down to minus four, but we have all got sleeping bags, that are rated to minus 10

"Last night was a bit cold, there was a bit of snow but apart from that it was alright," Dougie said.

Alan was equally unnerved about the prospect of having to brave the elements for a further four nights.

"I have a car round the corner so I just ended up bringing the car round. It was very cold last night, it was snowing and it is going to get even colder.

"It's only going to get down to minus four, but we have all got sleeping bags, that are rated to minus 10.

"If it is too cold we can pull the car round and sit in it."

Prices start at �165,000 for a one-bedroom apartment and rise to �185,000 for two bedroom properties.

BTW Shiells agent Ryan Andrews said that even with the unprecedented levels of investment in property in the area, they were surprised at the level of interest the release had generated.

"We notified the public last Friday fully expecting people to queue from Wednesday over the weekend, but we noticed the first people hanging about the office from nine o'clock," he said.

Demand

"We were as surprised as anybody. We know that demand is at an all time high in east Belfast, but we didn't expect this."

"In terms of specification the apartments will be very, very high, but you never could have anticipated this."

Traditionally newly-built homes have given first-time buyers the opportunity to get a foot on the property ladder, but with speculators looking to capitalise on a Northern Ireland boom which saw prices rise by about 40% during 2006 the market is becoming increasingly competitive.

This is apparent in the growing number of investors who are prepared to pay other people to wait for days to secure a property for them.

And with estate agents predicting another bullish year for property prices in Northern Ireland the sight of people queuing in the streets for days on end could well become the norm.

"There is no sign of the market easing up," Mr Andrews said.

"The market in the last year has jumped up and it will be interesting to see how this year goes."