HOUSE prices in parts of Scotland rose by more than £1,000 a month during 2014, according to new research that pinpoints the country's top 10 property hotspots.

Edinburgh, where the average house price has increased by more than £20,000 since last December, took the top spot on the list, compiled using official figures from the Registers of Scotland by estate agents Aberdein Considine.

It means people in the capital have seen their home value increase by £1,744 in each month of 2014.

The average house in Stirling enjoyed a £1,648 jump in value each month, adding £19,770 to local prices during the year.

Renfrewshire, Clackmannanshire and Aberdeen make up the rest of the top five, where values have risen by £1,356, £1,302 and £1,199 a month respectively.

Overall, the average property price across Scotland was said to have increased by £877 a month last year. Glasgow, the country's largest city, did not make the top ten.

Bob Fraser, senior partner at Aberdein Considine, believes that property markets in many parts of the country enjoyed a strong year in 2014.

He said: "The Scottish economy has rallied during the past 12 months and as a result, more people have had the confidence to buy and sell property.

"In recent years, Edinburgh and Aberdeen have led the post-recession recovery in the property market, while other parts of the country have struggled to keep up.

"However, as these figures show, many other parts of Scotland are now beginning to flourish."

Inverclyde, North and East Ayrshire, East Lothian and Angus also enjoyed month-on-month price increases of more than £1,000 during the year.

Mr Fraser said that the start of this year is likely to be busier than usual, as buyers look to beat tax increases due to come into force at the higher end of the market.

From April, stamp duty will be replaced by the Scottish Government's Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT).

It is argued that the changes will ease the burden for first-time buyers, but the tax on more expensive properties - those selling for £325,000 or more - will increase.

Buyers have also been taking advantage of changes to stamp duty announced by Chancellor George Osborne in his Autumn statement, which came into force last month.

Mr Fraser said: "The changes coming mean that people buying at a certain level will be saving a substantial amount of money if they buy now.

"As a result, what is typically a quiet month for the industry has become a very busy one.

"If this month so far is anything to go by, I expect 2015 to be just as profitable as 2014 for people with homes in the right areas."

Dr John Boyle, director of research and strategy at estate agents Rettie and Co, said that different factors were behind the appearance of some areas on the list of property hotspots.

He said: "There are a variety of reasons why some areas have done better than others in terms of price rises.

"Some are growing from a very low base, while some are areas where there is very high demand for housing in relation to supply. Aberdeen and Edinburgh would fall into this category.

"Then there are areas where there has been a good deal of new build activity, such as Midlothian."

Meanwhile, separate report has shown that Scottish property prices rose by six per cent in 2014, with a quarter of all transactions taking place in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

The Your Move/Acadata House price index found that property values fell by 0.1 per cent in November, compared to October.