Average house prices in Dundee have fallen again despite other parts of Courier territory enjoying a small boom.
Latest monthly figures released by the Registers of Scotland (RoS) reveal the city suffered a 3.8% tumble in June, bringing the average property price down to £124,247.
The result stands in stark contrast to neighbouring areas.
Perth and Kinross recorded the highest average price increase of 10.5% (£183,555) and also saw sales jump by 47% over the same period.
Elsewhere, Fife and Angus enjoyed small increases of 0.3% and 0.9% respectively.
The average house price in Angus is now £139,607 and in Fife £130,186.
Despite Dundee lagging behind, Peter Ryder of the Tayside Solicitors Property Centre said it was not all bad news for the city.
He felt local sellers would begin to see house prices rise again over the first quarter of next year.’Period of stability’Mr Ryder said, “One of the reasons is due to there being a number of flats sold over that brief period.
“About 36 flats were sold, which would bring the average price down slightly prices of flats decreased somewhat anyway.”
Mr Ryder expects prices to pick up soon and is already seeing strong signs that this is happening.
He said, “Our June sales figures are up 12% and we expect July to be the same.
“We are seeing a period of stability.”
He added, “The sales are beginning to come through. It’s a slow growth which is probably not a bad thing considering.
“The average house price is stable at present but we expect that to go up early next year.
“For the rest of this year we believe house prices will remain around the same level.”£5m property tops listMeanwhile, the RoS has also revealed that Dundee’s most expensive property purchase in the last five years took place in 2007 when £1,250,000 was spent on 53 Seafield Road in Broughty Ferry.
The stone-built property, bought shortly before the credit crunch took hold, belongs to Redwood House Care Home and is within the protected conservation area.
Broughty Ferry is one of the most sought after locations, with properties often going at a premium.
But those who decide to part with their cash to live there could also be making a savvy investment, with seven of the city’s top 10 properties based on price in the DD5 postcode area, according to RoS.
Dundee’s most expensive house prices still appear to be some way off other parts of the country, with the city failing to enter the national top 10 falling short by nearly £2 million.
Of Scotland’s top 10 properties, six are in Edinburgh and two are in Auchterarder, with one apiece for Longniddry and St Andrews.
The most expensive property on the list was bought for £5 million, with the number 10 slot costing the new owners £3.1 million.
The RoS is the official government land register and the only body to record all property sales in Scotland.
Photo used under Creative Commons licence courtesy of Flickr user wwworks.