Volumes of house sales rose across Scotland at the same time as average prices fell, for the second quarter running, in April-June 2016, according to the latest data from Registers of Scotland.
Registers' quarterly statistics for the first three months of the 2016-17 financial year show the volume of residential property sales in Scotland at 25,760, an increase of 4.9% compared with the same period in the previous year and the highest volume of sales for this quarter since 2008-09.
However the average property price in the quarter was down 2.3% year on year, at £164,326, though this was up on the January-March average of £159,198.
The previous quarter showed year on year volume growth of 18.2% but average prices down 8.4%.
The 24 local authority areas showing volume growth ranged from East Lothian at 0.4% and Angus at 0.8%, to North, East and South Ayrshire, Argyll & Bute and Na h-Eileanan Siar, all at between 20 and 25% up on the same quarter the previous year. Three areas (Clackmannan, Falkirk and East Renfrewshire, and five a sales decline, led by Aberdeen City, down by 19.5%, and Aberdeenshire, down by 14.5%.
Average prices year on year rose in 16 areas and fell in 16 areas. East Renfrewshire recorded the highest average at £241,364, and the highest percentage increase at 11.7%. Price-wise it overtook Edinburgh, which dipped 1.4% on average to £234,658. The next highest percentage rise was Na h-Eileanan Siar at 7%. West Dunbartonshire recorded the highest percentage fall, 12.7%, followed by Aberdeenshire at 10.8% and Perth & Kinross at 7.1%.
All property types showed a decrease in average house price in this quarter, led by terraced properties, down 5.6% to £132,700, but with the exception of detached properties (down 3.4%), all property types showed an increase in sales volumes, with flats showing the biggest increase at 11.2%.
The total value of sales across Scotland increased by 2.5% compared to the previous year to just over £4.2bn.
