House prices have increased in Scotland

Posted: 10 Aug 2010 08:56:27 GMT

A rise in property sales in the Scottish housing market has provided "grounds for optimism", one expert has indicated.

Residential property planner at Russel + Aitken Dianne Paterson said the amount of dwellings sold has proved positive, although they are still down on levels seen before the recession.

"To a large extent, the property market is fuelled by confidence and these figures suggest that confidence is at last returning to the market place," she added.

Ms Paterson explained there is definitely movement in the market again and marriages, kids leaving home and job switches are helping to drive the system.

She observed restricted lending is still affecting first-time buyers, who are unable to get on to the property ladder as they cannot afford such large deposits.

The specialist's comments follow the release of figures from the Registers of Scotland, which revealed the cost of a dwelling in Scotland has swelled by 3.6 per cent in the second quarter of this year and now stands at £153,248.
 

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