Sunny skies and positive developments for Scottish housing sector today
Scotland's housing market is currently thriving, outperforming the UK average and setting the pace for property sales and price growth. According to a report published by the UK's largest estate agency group, Lomond, eight of the top 20 best performing property markets are located in Scotland [1].
The Scottish market is experiencing a surge in demand and sales, with Glasgow leading the way. On average, 899 properties change hands in Glasgow each month [2]. Edinburgh follows closely behind with an average of 837 homes sold monthly [2].
One of the key factors driving this performance is year-on-year price growth above the UK average. As of June 2025, Scotland recorded a 4.9% annual price rise, outpacing the UK-wide figure of 2.5% [1]. Regional price gains are also significant, with Edinburgh's southwest suburbs seeing average prices increase nearly 15%, East Lothian rising by 9.8%, and Midlothian and West Lothian posting steady gains above 5% [1][3].
Properties in Scotland are selling quickly, with a median time to offer of about 20 days in Edinburgh, and often exceeding Home Report valuations, averaging 102.5% of valuation [1][3]. This strong buyer demand and improved mortgage accessibility, facilitated by stable interest rates and mortgage affordability, have led to increased new mortgage advances for first-time buyers, up 15.7% annually [1][4].
The market remains balanced, with growing listings, despite sellers still using an “offers over” strategy, indicating confidence and competition [3]. Scotland's economy also shows solid GDP growth, contributing to market strength and consumer confidence [5].
Despite the current market conditions, the long-term sustainability remains uncertain. David J Alexander, Lomond's Scotland CEO, stated that there is no single answer to why this is happening, but parts of the Scottish market are particularly active [6].
Outside of Scotland, Birmingham ranks top in the Midlands with an average of 499 homes sold each month. Across Britain, an average of 40,269 homes are sold every month [7]. Leeds also makes it into the top five, with an average of 491 properties sold on a monthly basis [7].
As the Scottish housing market continues to defy expectations, with prices and volumes remaining high, it remains attractive to buyers looking for value, space, and proximity to city centers [1][3][5].
Investors are increasingly interested in the Scottish housing market due to its robust performance, fueled by year-on-year price growth higher than the UK average. This market attractiveness is further emphasized by the high demand and sales, particularly in cities like Glasgow and Edinburgh.
The thriving Scottish housing market also offers an appealing investment opportunity for first-time buyers, as improvements in mortgage accessibility have led to increased new mortgage advances, with an annual increase of 15.7%. However, the long-term sustainability of the market remains uncertain, despite the current market conditions.
