Scottish housing market “pausing for breath”

Published on

Your Move has reported that annual house price growth in Scotland in May stood at 5.8%, more than triple the rate in England and Wales and well above even the fastest growing region of the North West, where prices are up 3.7%.

The average home value in Scotland stood at £183,626 in May.

After a first quarter in which house prices grew almost 3.5%, including 1.7% in February alone, prices slowed in April and fell 0.2% in May – the first monthly drop since last July yet they remain up £6,681 this year and have risen more than £10,000 since last May.

Edinburgh (pictured) is still recording annual price growth of 10.6% (with the average now £277,401).

At the top of the market, East Renfrewshire and East Dunbartonshire, are also up 8.8% and 8.6%, respectively.

Prices in Midlothian, meanwhile, have increased 10.7%, and it was one of 10 local authorities – almost a third of the market – to set a new peak average price in May.

At the bottom of the market, meanwhile, West Dunbartonshire and Na h-Eileanan Siar, the cheapest two areas in the country, have seen prices rise 12.2% and 14.3% respectively – the biggest increases outside the Shetland Islands, which also set a new peak price during the month (along with the Orkneys). Prices there are up 18.5% annually, but are swayed by a very small number of transactions. The highest annual increase in prices on the mainland, meanwhile, is in Dumfries and Galloway, with prices up 12.3%.

Overall, 20 of Scotland’s 32 areas saw prices increase during May, and 29 – more than nine out of 10 – have seen prices rise in the last 12 months.

Christine Campbell, Your Move managing director in Scotland, said: “After a very strong start to the year the market seems to be pausing for breath yet with continued price increases it appears there is still strength in the market.”

Alan Penman, business development manager for Walker Fraser Steele, one of Scotland’s oldest firms of chartered surveyors and part of the LSL Property Services plc group of companies, said: “Whilst house price growth in Edinburgh has slowed, it is clear that, with a 10.6% increase over the year, it has great influence on the overall figures.”

Latest POLL

COMMENT ON MORTGAGE SOUP

We want to hear from you!
Leave a comment and get the conversation started.
You need to register to post, so please login or sign up below.

Latest articles

Mortgage affordability continues to weaken

January saw a weakening in mortgage affordability weakened for the second month in a...

FCA to investigate effectiveness of pure protection market

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is undertaking a market study to look into how...

New Skipton cashback mortgage to help those who miss stamp duty deadline

To support those who don’t manage to complete their house purchase before the stamp...

MT Finance ups maximum LTV on HMO product

MT Finance has increased the maximum loan-to-value (LTV) to 80% on its buy-to-let small...

Other news

Mortgage affordability continues to weaken

January saw a weakening in mortgage affordability weakened for the second month in a...

FCA to investigate effectiveness of pure protection market

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is undertaking a market study to look into how...

New Skipton cashback mortgage to help those who miss stamp duty deadline

To support those who don’t manage to complete their house purchase before the stamp...