Scottish homes ''getting very popular''

House prices in Scotland are rising fast and at twice the rate of the national average price in the UK, according to a new report.

Research by Halifax indicates that prices have gone up by 22.4 per cent in the last year while the UK average is 11.1 per cent. However the average property price in Scotland is £138,655 while in the UK as a whole it is still higher on £192,314.

Edinburgh still has the most expensive homes but there were rises seen in even cheaper towns such as Lochgelly in Fife which went over the £100,000 barrier for the first time.

Tim Crawford, group economist for Bank of Scotland, said: "Prices have risen more than earnings in Scotland in recent years, so a natural cooling is anticipated.

"We are forecasting that house prices will have risen by a more sustainable seven per cent over the course of 2007."

Aberdeen has seen the strongest growth, followed by Dundee then Glasgow then Edinburgh.


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