The scheme allows tenants the chance to rent below market rates for five to ten years before being given priority to buy the property at the end of the rental period.

The scheme is already delivering over 1000 new affordable homes in 10 different council areas and with 13 developers across Scotland. Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Fife councils are participating in the latest procurement round.

The National Housing Trust initiative (NHT) gives developers and councils the chance to jointly fund the purchase of new homes.

The National Housing Trust initiative (NHT) was developed by the Scottish Government and Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) with input from housebuilders, councils and lending institutions.

Lonend development, Edinburgh – part of the Affordable Housing Scheme 

Housing Minister Margaret Burgess said:

“The scheme has already been hugely successful, providing hundreds of new affordable homes for families throughout Scotland, as well as stimulating growth and supporting jobs in the construction sector and wider economy.

“This new procurement round will build on the good work already carried out and create even more affordable homes in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Fife.”

Christa Reekie, Commercial Director at the Scottish Futures Trust said:

“The four local authorities have already participated in NHT and we are delighted that they have decided to procure more homes under NHT.

“Whilst meeting the needs for affordable housing for rent, the NHT initiative, currently worth £150 million, has also been designed to aid the economy and keep people in jobs by allowing developers and house builders to kick-start construction on stalled sites.”

For the third consecutive month RICS’s have recorded a growth in new buyer enquires and newly agreed sales for the first time since mid-2011.

Sarah Speirs, Director RICS Scotland said ‘It is encouraging that the Scottish housing market continues to indicate that we are moving away from the highly negative figures witnessed in previous years. However, despite this, activity is still much lower that pre-crisis norm, and action is required to increase finance and give the market the real thrust that is required’.

Surveyor predictions vary on the impact this will have on house prices however the results are a positive step towars growth in the property market.

On average properties in Scotland in the first quarter of the year sold for almost exactly 10% less (£16,500) than the advertised price, but the picture varies dramatically from one end of the market to the other with flats and terraced houses actually achieving more than the advertised price by an average of £5,000 and £2,000 respectively.  

The main driver of the drop in overall selling prices has been semi-detached properties, with a significant decrease of over 4%. This means the average selling price of a semi-detached house is around 6% less than the asking price, compared to 2% less last quarter, whereas detached properties showed little change and still sell at around 20% below the average asking price.

Mark Smith, Managing Director of s1homes said: “Asking prices at the higher end of the market are starting to drop, but only very slightly, and buyers are continuing to pick up properties for considerably less than the advertised price.  It’s a different story though away from the leafy suburbs with flats being priced much more realistically and sellers getting what they are looking for.”

Commenting on the report, Steven Miller of Donald Ross Estate & Letting Agents Ltd said: “Quarter 1 2013 has seen the best start to a new year since 2007, our specific market analysis has shown a rise in activity. Viewing figures have increased and subsequently so have the number of buyers as a proportion of viewers.  We’re finding that sellers have been more realistic and there are areas where sellers of quality properties in desirable locations and with realistic asking prices have been generating competition, resulting in an increase in closing dates and selling prices.”

The majority of regions saw a widening in the Reality Gap with Argyll & Bute seeing a decrease in the Reality Gap, once again.

The biggest increases in the Reality Gap were seen in Glasgow/Dunbartonshire and Renfrewshire/Inverclyde where there were significant decreases in the average selling prices.

The report, published quarterly, samples around 25,000 properties advertised on s1homes.com every month and provides trends in the various property markets throughout Scotland. For more information visit www.s1homes.com/house-price-report.

This will be the firm’s first site in the Scottish capital and add to central belt premises in Glasgow, Livingston and Bathgate which have opened within the past year.

Harvey Aberdein, managing partner of Aberdein Considine, said the move into Edinburgh cemented the firm’s drive from its heartlands in the north east of Scotland to the central belt.

Zing Property are looking for Trainee Estate Agents in Glasgow for their new concept, Quick Sale Estate Agency.

The lucky candidate would visit home sellers in their homes, advise them of their options, value the property and collate schedule information.

Most importantly no previous experience is required, so if you’re looking for a career in the property market (or fancy a guilt free nosey in other people’s houses), check out the job advertised on s1jobs.com

We’ve improved the site to be more like our desktop meaning  it’s easier for you to search for exactly where you want to live.  We’ve also made quite a few other changes to make searching for your ideal home on your mobile a whole lot better.

Other improvements include:

•         Ability to sort your results based on price
•         Bigger pictures which you can swipe through
•         See the property on a map
•         View schedules
•         Email the agent right away

We hope you like it!

The Reality Gap (the difference between what house sellers hope to sell their properties for and the price they actually achieve) is still widening at the upper end with the average selling price of detached houses now at almost 20% below the average asking price.   Flats, semi-detached and terraced houses though are attracting offers over the asking price.

Overall, the s1homes Scottish house price report reveals a marginal widening of the Reality Gap with the average asking price across Scotland falling by almost 1.5% to £165,192, in the 3 months to December.  The average price that properties were actually sold for (as reported by Registers of Scotland) decreased from £159,310 (July to September) to £154,810 (October to December), down almost 3%.  This means that the average property in Scotland is now selling for around 6% less than the asking price, compared to 5% less in the previous quarter.

Mark Smith, Managing Director of s1homes said: “The picture of the market as a whole is still being affected by detached properties being priced at unrealistic levels leading to a significant Reality Gap. Selling prices are falling in the majority of areas and asking prices aren’t being reduced enough to close the gap. “

“I think what this shows is the market has been much quicker to adjust at the lower end, while the market at the higher end is particularly entrenched with almost no change at all in the very substantial Reality Gap over the past 12 months.”

With sales volumes down across Scotland, the majority of regions saw little or no change in the Reality Gap. However, Argyll & Bute and Falkirk both saw decreases in the Reality Gap, while East Lothian and South Lanarkshire saw increases.

Edinburgh has once again bucked the trend with the average property being sold for more than the asking price.

The report, published quarterly, samples around 25,000 properties advertised on s1homes.com every month and provides trends in the various property markets throughout Scotland. For more information visit www.s1homes.com/house-price-report.

1. Monkton House and Cottage, Whitecraig, East Lothian

You may have seen our previous blog post about this Laird’s house with rather interesting interior design features.

 2. Kiltarlity, Beauly, Inverness

A magnificent country house set on a private island.

3. St Edmunds, St Edmunds Grove, Milngavie

A ‘C’ listed Arts & Crafts villa close to the city,  designed by architect John Gibb Morton.

4. Monreith Road, Newlands, Glasgow

Beautiful red sandstone, 5 bedroom family home close to amenities.

5. Telperion, Park Drive, Thorntonhall

Business Tycoon, Michelle Mone’s family home in Thorntonhall near Glasgow.

6. Polwarth Street, Hyndland, Glasgow

Beautiful red sandstone flat in Glasgow’s much sought after west end.

7. Eilean Righ, Ardfern, Argyll & Bute

An exceptional private island  on the stunning coast line of Argyll  in Loch Craignish.

8. Mayen Estate, Rothiemay, Huntly

An all round estate overlooking the Deveron Valley, containing the ‘B’ listed Mayen House plus five cottages, a chalet and farmland.

9. Skeldon, Dalrymple, Ayr 

Classical 18th Century estate in Ayr, containing various estate houses and cottages.

10. Canniesburn Drive, Bearsden

A luxury 6 bedroom family home in flagship 18 home development in Bearsden.

The s1homes Scottish house price report reveals that the average asking price across Scotland fell by almost 1% to £167,619, in the 3 months to September.  The average price that properties were actually sold for (as reported by Registers of Scotland) increased from £153,501 (April to June) to £159,310 (July to September), up 3.8%.  This means that while sales volumes are down, the average property in Scotland is now selling for around 5% less than the asking price, compared to almost 10% less in the previous quarter.

Sales of flats, terraced and semi detached houses are achieving above their asking prices, however the Reality Gap remains wide for detached houses with the average selling price at almost 18% below the average asking price.

Commenting on the report, Andrew Watt, Managing Director of Residence Estate Agents said: “Whilst many areas of the market have seen noticeable improvement over the past 6 months and a degree of confidence has returned, the market still remains price sensitive. Initial asking prices are crucial to achieving a successful sale with 84% of our properties selling in excess of their asking price during this period. Whilst we don’t expect house prices to rise significantly in the immediate future, we do expect confidence to continue to grow and activity levels to increase during 2013.”

Across Scotland, the majority of regions saw a decrease in the Reality Gap due to an increase in the average price achieved as asking prices began to fall. However, Argyll & Bute, Falkirk, Renfrewshire/Inverclyde and West Lothian all saw increases in the Reality Gap as selling prices fell.

Edinburgh has once again bucked the trend, along with East Lothian, with the average property being sold for more than the asking price.

The report, published quarterly, samples around 25,000 properties advertised on s1homes.com every month and provides trends in the various property markets throughout Scotland. For more information visit www.s1homes.com/house-price-report.

Here are a few of the best conversions we’ve found on s1homes:

Flat F, Arden House, Loch Lomond, Arden

Bonaly Road, Colinton

Horseley Brae, Garrion Tower, Wishaw

Flat 5, Lauder Road, Grange