AN increase in interest from buyers looking for a new home last month sparked some optimism in the housing market, a report has found.

Although demand is still historically low, inquiries from would-be buyers rose in most parts of Scotland in November, chartered surveyors say.

The amount of homes coming up for sale has also increased, according to the latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) UK housing market survey which measures how those working in residential sales feel about the state of the market.

Looking ahead, people are optimistic that activity levels will continue to gently rise, with 20% more respondents expecting sales to increase rather than decrease over the coming three months.

However, modest drops were noted in house prices as a net balance of 16% more surveyors reported falling prices.

Sarah Speirs, director of Rics Scotland, said: "There is certainly some optimism creeping back into the housing market in Scotland, and it is encouraging to see an increase in potential buyers across parts of the country where the market has particularly suffered in recent years.

"That said, there is still a long way to go and the long-standing barriers to home ownership are still very much a problem for the likes of first-time buyers."