People wanting to buy an investment property in WA are waiting until the first home owner's grant expires at the end of the year to avoid market competition.

A survey by Mortgage Choice has revealed almost two-thirds of people wanting to buy an investment property in WA were delaying upcoming investment purchases until next year in a bid to compete in a market with fewer buyers.

The 2009 Property Investors Survey's findings were backed by Real Estate Industry of WA president Rob Druitt, who said he had heard property investors were waiting for a lull in the market but was unconvinced WA's property stocks would decrease significantly in value.

Mortgage Choice senior corporate affairs manager Kristy Sheppard said the survey results confirmed what the company's loan consultants had been saying for a short while.

"We have been hearing from a number of corners that property investors are all set and ready to go once the boost has had its day," Ms Sheppard said.

"A large number are calling our loan consultants to see how much money they can borrow from the various lenders on our panel and getting their finances in order, all in preparation for hitting the ground running to purchase in 2010 and 2011."

Mr Druitt said one reason investors were waiting was due to excessive investor interest in WA properties priced under $500,000 - the key market for first home buyers.

"There is a lot of talk amongst investors that property prices will come off when the home buyers are out of the market," Mr Druitt said.

"In reality what I think will happen is we've already got a stabilised market and the investors will simply pick up the slack from the first home buyers.

"We're already starting to see that as first home buyer activity is not as frenzied as it was going back several months."

Surprisingly, the survey also revealed WA respondents were the 'least confident' in its housing market compared to the rest of Australia.

Queensland respondents were the most supportive at 40 per cent, Victoria was next on 37 per cent, followed by South Australia at 36 per cent, NSW at 35 per cent and WA trailing the country with 34 per cent.

PERTH JAYNE RICKARD