The housing market is expected to pick up next year, according to an industry forecast.

Any slight improvements in the economy will be reflected in the housing market with a rise in sales, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) has said.

Transaction numbers are predicted to rise 4%, from 74,000 this year to 77,000. In 2007, total sales in Scotland were at 148,000.

Sarah Speirs, director of Rics Scotland, said: "The average house price in Scotland looks set to remain close to current levels throughout 2013, reflecting in part the uncertain outlook for the economy.

"More positively, the amount of sales going through should see an increase across the country, climbing to its best level since 2008."

She added: "But these tentative signs of recovery in the sales market should not blind us to the very real problems that still exist. Even with Government policies beginning to be felt in the mortgage market, many first-time buyers will continue to find it difficult to secure a sufficiently large loan to take an initial step on the housing market."