"The reduction in the interest rates at the local banks has helped the real estate market, but we would like to see this reduce further, as the rates are still unreachable to some," she said. There are still a number of factors that will continue to impact on the real estate market, Sheppard said. "The rental market has dropped about 20 per cent as a lot of expats have left Trinidad, and a sudden influx of new properties on the market for rent. Also, a price war on rents is brewing and has come extremely competitive, especially in the west," Sheppard said.