An analysis by The Canberra Times shows that despite enormous publicity about the possible dangers of living in Mr Fluffy homes, the homes have continued to sell.

Some buyers find themselves in the nightmare situation of having agreed to buy a home but unable to get finance.

A spokesman for one of the banks refusing finance, ME Bank, confirmed it was dealing with a customer unable to secure a loan because the Mr Fluffy issue was an unacceptable risk.

Many of the prices for the 22 sales are not disclosed, but Mr Fluffy homes in Curtin, Griffith, Yarralumla and Fisher have sold for well over $800,000. In most cases prices are well above land value, although a few prices suggest owners have sold for less than they might otherwise have.

Of 13 advertisements still posted online, none mention loose-fill asbestos. Some give other reasons for selling such as the owners leaving town. One describes the house as "the great Australian dream". Others are touted as family homes. Some advertising promotes the homes as unique opportunities, beautifully renovated or ripe for renovation or rebuild – standard language in real estate, but language that resonates in a situation where renovations have put owners' health at risk and where the houses look set for mass demolition.

One recently sold home is now advertised for rent. One looks to have sold twice this year, in mid-February and again in June. At least six were sold by auction.

Fluffy Owners and Residents' Action Group spokeswoman Brianna Heseltine said she had seen the human grief behind many of the homes.

"I know vendors who have sold in desperation with full disclosure at a significant loss because they had bought a new home before the 18 February letter arrived and tore apart their lives," she said.

The government must compensate owners for losses since February, including people who sold for less because they disclosed upfront, she said, warning against making assumptions about the sellers.

"I have sat down with many highly stressed vendors who had no clue their home was affected, and then watched in horror as their sales unravelled before their eyes as anxious purchasers sought to pull out. These are people who have ripped down walls with their own hands to renovate and sell and now face the terrible fear of wondering if they will get a disease at some point."

Some of last year's sales had transfer dates for early this year, when the new owners presumably found themselves arriving around the same time as the warning letter and the ensuing crisis.

The February letter told homeowners that some of the dangerous insulation was likely to remain in their homes and warned them against even minor repairs.

Real Estate Institute ACT chief executive Ron Bell was surprised at the number of sales.

"I'm very concerned that people are moving on this sort of thing without having the right information and understanding that the government is going to be making some pretty serious announcements," he said.

Asked about the advertising, Mr Bell said he had done everything he could to alert agents and stress the need to ask owners and tell buyers, including disclosure at auctions.

But just two weeks ago he had asked an agent "Is this a Mr Fluffy house?"

"He said, 'I don't know.' I said you simply have to know."

- with Tom McIlroy