Average house prices in Scotland increase

THE average price of a house in Scotland over the last three months was almost £168,000, the highest figure recorded for the quarter, according to official statistics.

Average house prices reached £168,000, the highest figure recorded for the quarter. Picture: Phil Wilkinson

The Registers of Scotland (RoS) report shows a 3.5 per cent rise in prices covering April to June compared to the same period last year.

It took the average price to £167,765 - the top figure registered for these three months since RoS began compiling quarterly statistics in 2003.

The total value and volume of sales across Scotland was up compared to the previous year to more than £4.14 billion.

Glasgow showed the largest percentage rise in the number of sales, with an increase of 17.6 per cent bringing the city above Edinburgh in terms of volume.

The biggest fall in the number of sales was seen in Aberdeen at 18 per cent.

Kenny Crawford, commercial services director at RoS, said: “The city of Edinburgh recorded the highest average house price at £237,286, a rise of 4.4 per cent on the previous year. This percentage increase is slightly higher than the Scotland average of 3.5 per cent.

“Across Scotland’s local authority areas the picture is more mixed. The highest percentage rise was recorded in West Dunbartonshire, where the average price increased 10.1 per cent to £120,822, while the largest percentage fall in price was in East Renfrewshire, which showed a 7 per cent drop to £216,565.”

Flats showed the biggest increase in both average price and sales volume as prices rose, while detached and terraced properties both saw decreases in average price and volume.

The statistics cover all residential sales, including those that did not involve a mortgage.