PROPERTY experts have predicted the Scottish market is on the long-awaited road to recovery with buoyant forecasts of rising house prices and increased activity among sellers.
A new report by chartered surveyors found increased demand and climbing values last month andpredictions the positive conditions are to continue over the next year.
The claims are made by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) in its latest report on the market, which is traditionally a good barometer of its strengths and weaknesses.
It appears to show that July's mini-heatwave and people going on holiday failed to subdue house-hunting.
However, a leading property firm added a note of caution. Savills, while broadly recognising the picture painted by the chartered surveyors, said it feared next year's independence referendum could bring renewed caution to the market.
RICS Scotland said 52% more of its surveyors reported an increased workload last month with 39% more surveyors reporting a rise in property prices, the second monthly increase in a row. Most of those asked (60%) said they expected the number of property transactions to rise rather than fall over the next 12 months.
A separate study has found the number of mortgages approved by lenders has risen by 15% and lending to first-time buyers hit the highest level since the 2007 financial crash.
Sarah Speirs, director of RICS Scotland, said: "These results are great news for the property market as it looks like, at long last, a recovery could be around the corner. Growth in expected transactions and prices has been happening in some parts of the country since the beginning of the year but this is the first time that everywhere has experienced some improvement.
"In particular, it is encouraging that our results suggest greater availability of mortgages for first-time buyers in Scotland is being accompanied by higher loan to value ratios."
The average house price in Scotland is £153,102, according to the General Registers of Scotland last month.
RICS Scotland said it surveyors were confident further rises would be recorded. A net balance of 29% more Scottish surveyors predicted increases over the next three months and 56% more over the next year.
In tandem with rising buyer confidence, the number of potential sellers looking to test the market and place their homes up for sale remained solid, RICS Scotland said. Last month, 24% more respondents reported rises rather than falls in new instructions.
Faisal Choudhry, head of research at Savills, said realistic pricing and improved mortgage lending had helped pick up market pace north of the Border, with the prime market of properties worth £400,000 and more approaching a turning point.
He said: "We all face some economic and political challenges, including the uncertainty surrounding the independence referendum next year and proposed changes to stamp duty in 2015.
"However, would-be buyers can also look forward to the arrival of the mortgage guarantee element of the Government's Help to Buy scheme, which has yet to be introduced in Scotland. Its benefits are already being felt south of the Border and, as it is available to homeowners purchasing any home worth up to £600,000, the impact is likely to be felt quite widely."
Mr Choudhry said the referendum could cause buyers and sellers to pause rather than cause specific concerns, with general elections shown to have had similar impact on the market.
The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) said that first-time buyers were particularly benefiting from more relaxed lending conditions. There were 25,300 loans made across the UK during June, up 30% on that month last year.
Michael Luck, managing director of Slater, Hogg and Howison, said he recognised a more positive activity but added things remain very difficult for those buying their first property.
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