It might still be early in the season, but there are positive signs for the local property market according to a leading real estate agent.

Mark Flinn, Sales Manager of Ray White Port Douglas, said he was surprised by the level of recent transactions, and is optimistic that a spate of sales is a taste of things to come.

"We sold six out of eight properties at our auctions and the end of April, then we had another batch at the end of May and we sold three of the five of those. We're seeing good results."

Mr Flinn said four property sales last week, and multiple offers on properties was also a sign of a recovering market.

"If the right property comes up, there is interest out there at the right price," he said, adding that enquiries were spread across a variety of properties from holiday units in town to larger residential homes throughout the region.

"Holiday units had been pretty much stale, there had been very little happening. But it's coming back into good times I guess and people are looking at holiday units again," Mr Flinn said.

He said despite the increase in sales, it is still a buyer's market with property prices remaining well below historical levels. He cited a home in Sorrento Avenue that received an offer of $520,000 just 18 months ago going under contract at $392,000 which the vendor eventually knocked back.

"That's a story that's quite common," Mr Flinn said.

Demand for rental properties has been high over the last month with Ray White renting a property a day.

"It's amazing how much the dynamics have changed from a renters market to a landlords market where they're dictating terms now," Mr Flinn said.

"Probably three to six months ago it was completely a tenants market. Landlords can now take a higher ground."

Mr Flinn has also noticed a revival in business leases with some new shops moving in to vacant spaces, and landlords showing some flexibility in their terms.

"They're being realistic and that's good. The facts are there. You give them the facts and they have to look at them."

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Ray White's Alan Crossman was also pleased to see a strong increase in holiday letting demand.

"It's certainly looking like a better year. What that's due to is hard to say. Despite the fact our dollar is quite strong people like the tried and true destinations.

"As of last count for the season we're up 20 per cent (on last year's figures), and that will probably increase I think."

He noted there was high demand for holiday properties for the Solar Eclipse in November.

"November is normally a quiet month but in fact it's turning out to be like a high season."