Last year marked a turning point for the Scottish housing market, largely thanks to the introduction of Help to Buy's shared equity scheme for new build properties, which was later followed by a government-backed mortgage guarantee scheme for new and existing properties.

Both schemes enable buyers to obtain a 95% mortgage, which gave the market the kick-start it needed - and property professionals the confidence to predict continued growth in 2014 for transactions and house prices in rural as well as urban areas.

Sarah Speirs, director of RICS Scotland, said: "Last year we saw house prices beginning to rise across Scotland and this year we expect to see more of the same." In its annual housing market forecast, RICS predicts house prices in Scotland will see an increase of 7% in 2014, while the cost of renting a home should rise by a further 2%.

Corum's community push

Corum opens the doors to a new branch in the south side of Glasgow at 572 Clarkston Road, Netherlee on January 7. It's a move which managing partner John Kelly says is logical as the sense of community in the suburb fits perfectly with the brand's exclusive focus on residential property and its ability to bring a specialist approach to the area by employing experienced local staff to provide a personal service and seven-day accessibility.

In charge will be associate partner Marc Leslie, an honours law graduate who has lived in Netherlee for almost 20 years and who has completed Corum's own apprenticeship programme, while office manageress and fellow south side resident Susan Laisen is a well-known property market veteran. John Kelly will also be based at the new office, an adjunct to Corum's existing branches in Newton Mearns and Shawlands.

International focus

Another response to the positive upturn in the market, independent estate agent DJ Alexander is to revive its regular Hong Kong showcase of investment properties located in Scotland.

Managing director, David Alexander, said the company plans to hold an exhibition of Scottish properties in the former colony's central business district during the first half of 2014 - the first time it has done so for 14 years.

The company began exhibiting investment properties - mainly located in Edinburgh and Glasgow - on a regular basis in 1990. "These ended in 2000 because at the time there was so much home-grown demand for investment properties here in Scotland we did not see the need to jet halfway round the world to market them," explains David Alexander. "While this demand still remains strong in the lower-to-middle property markets, we anticipate strong interest in properties at the higher price range from Hong Kong investors."