Confidence is returning to the property market in Tayside with overall sales volumes up by almost a fifth to £151 million in the first half of the year.
A total of 1,059 homes were sold in the six months to June, up from 903 in the same period in 2011.
The overall sales generated lifted from £119.6m in 2011 to £151.5m in the past six months.
The numbers of new properties coming on to the market was also up by more than 8% a figure that is seen as a measure of the confidence in the sector.
Across Dundee, Angus and north-east Fife, the average sales price achieved during the first half of the year was £143,123 a rise of 7.98% on the £132,542 average in 2011.
Peter Ryder, manager of Tayside Solicitors Property Centre in Dundee, said there are positive signs the market is starting to pick up after a period in the doldrums as the economic downturn took its toll.
He said: ”We have also seen registrations at the TSPC rise by 8.45%. Last summer we had 1,881 homes on the books and now members are marketing 2,040, with clients being encouraged by the positive pattern of sales this year.
”It is another sign of confidence returning to the market locally.”
Sales of detached villas one of the most expensive types of property available leapt by 26.3% with demand for semi-detached villas even stronger at 30.7% up on the comparable period 2011.
Detached bungalows were 3.5% ahead while the semi-detached bungalow market saw a 43% rise in sales, underlining the strong performance of the mid market.
The average flat price edged ahead by almost 3% despite first-time buyers continuing to have difficulty in accessing mortgages to secure a step on to the property ladder.
Mr Ryder said: ”There’s no doubt that more properties are selling in the mid-range compared to the first-time buyer sector. This has influenced the increases being reported in the average house price.
”More properties are selling as sellers are now being more realistic and accepting offers around valuation. It’s interesting that valuations have not increased and are very similar to last year.”
Mr Ryder said the overall signs are encouraging but the relatively slow performance of the flats market meant remains a concern.
He said: ”It is still too early to say whether we are seeing a full recovery or not, but it is promising in the fact that sales prices and volumes are up.”
Perthshire Solicitors Property Centre revealed their first-half data last week which showed that around £70m of property had changed hands so far in 2012.
In total, more than 400 properties have been sold through PSPC and average prices were in excess of £160,000.