Scotland has most homes up for sale

Published: 12 April 2011

The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors Scotland found that Scotland also saw the biggest increase in inquiries from potential buyers and had the highest number of agreed property sales during March, compared with elsewhere.

But the institute said the overall market was a "mixed bag", with prices and sales staying flat.

Just 4% of chartered surveyors in Scotland said house prices had fallen last month and 78% said they stayed the same. Almost a fifth (17%) overall said prices had risen, although 37% of London surveyors reported increases.

The institute said vendors' reluctance to lower asking prices was still "a stumbling block" for some would-be buyers.

RICS Scotland director Graeme Hartley said: "Scotland's housing market is a very different picture to the rest of the UK where many parts are suffering from a lack of buyers and sellers.

"Scotland is seeing a typical rise in buyers and sellers now that spring is here but chartered surveyors are reporting that sales will remain flat or only rise modestly in coming months."

A total of 19 companies in Scotland were surveyed.

Grant Robertson, of Allied Surveyors in Glasgow, reported "some potentially upward movement", suggesting "a spring market is kicking in but hasn't yet spluttered into life".

He added: "Prices unlikely to move forward but look more likely to remain flat rather than slip further back."