What’s shifting in the Scottish property market?

Scotland's property market is holding its own.

Whether you're buying, selling or letting, here's everything you need to know about how the market is performing right now - from house prices and regional hotspots to the latest rental trends.

The latest in the Scottish property market

The latest HPI indicates the average property price in Scotland now sits at £186,684 reflecting an annual growth of 2.3% over the 12 months to February 2026.* That figure comfortably outpaces the UK-wide average of 1.2% over the same period, signalling that Scotland continues to punch above its weight when it comes to price performance.*

It's worth noting that prices dipped slightly by 0.6% between January and February, but this is a pattern consistent with seasonal norms, as the same period a year earlier saw a steeper fall of 1.6%. When seasonal factors are stripped out, prices actually rose by 1.2% month-on-month, suggesting the underlying market remains resilient.*

What's happening in the regional market?

Scotland's regional picture is one of contrast. Of the country's 32 local authority areas, 27 recorded annual price growth in the 12 months to February.* A strong majority that speaks to the differences in market activity across the country.

Inverclyde leads the way with the highest annual price increase of any local authority, with values climbing 7.5% to an average of £112,940 with West Dunbartonshire just behind at 7.4% and an average of £126,696.*

For those looking at the premium end of the market, Edinburgh remains Scotland's most expensive city to buy in, with the average property costing £294,990.* By contrast, Scotland’s second city, Glasgow, remains more affordable, with the average price sitting below the national figure at £184,611 offering affordable urban living.

Key regional takeaways

What do property market trends show us?

Digging into the data by property type reveals some interesting patterns. Semi-detached homes are leading the charge, recording the strongest annual price growth of any property type at 4.1%, bringing the average to £212,754. Terraced properties aren't far behind, up 3.1% to £172,497, while detached homes rose 2.8% to £344,157.*

Flats and maisonettes saw the most modest growth, edging up just 0.8% to an average of £131,263, though this still represents positive movement in a competitive market.*

Transaction volumes are also telling a positive story. The number of sales completed in Scotland in December 2025 reached 8,066. Which is up 8.1% on December 2024, and the highest December figure recorded since 2021.* That recovery in activity is a meaningful signal in buyer confidence .

What does this mean for sellers and buyers?

For sellers, the data paints an encouraging picture. With annual price growth outperforming the UK average and transaction volumes on the rise, conditions are broadly favourable for those looking to bring a property to market. Semi-detached and terraced homes in particular are seeing strong demand, so if you're selling in that space, now could be a well-timed moment.

For buyers, the picture is nuanced. First-time buyers are paying an average of £153,184, up 2.2% year-on-year, while those moving up the ladder are looking at an average of £232,834, a 2.4% annual increase.* New build properties are commanding a premium, averaging £303,740 - a 5.4% annual rise compared to £176,914 for existing resold homes, which grew by 3.4%.*

For buyers with flexibility on property type or location, there are still pockets of value to be found, particularly in areas like Inverclyde, West Dunbartonshire and East Ayrshire.

What is happening in the rental market?

Scotland's rental market is seeing steady upward movement. The average rent in Scotland now stands at £971 per month, representing a 3.6% annual increase - double the UK-wide annual growth rate of 1.8%.^

On a monthly basis, Scottish rents rose by 0.9% in March staying slightly ahead of the UK average monthly increase of 0.8%, which itself marked the first monthly rise since October 2025.^ While Scottish rents remain 25.9% below the national average, that gap is narrowing. A sign that Scotland's rental market is catching up with the rest of the UK.

On affordability, renters in Scotland are currently spending around 28% of their income on rent, up from 25.8% a year ago, a 2.2% increase that reflects the pace of rental growth outstripping wage rises in some areas. That said, Scotland still compares favourably to the UK-wide affordability figure of 32.5%.^

Looking ahead

Scotland's property market has entered the spring season from a position of relative strength. Price growth is outpacing the UK average, transaction volumes are recovering, and demand across most local authority areas remains solid.

For landlords and investors, Scotland's rental yields and below-average rents relative to the rest of the UK suggest there is still room for growth, with rents rising faster in Scotland than across the UK.

For buyers, the window to act before further price growth may be narrowing in some areas. For sellers, the combination of rising values and improving transaction volumes creates a compelling case for coming to market.

Whatever your next move, the Scottish market is one worth watching closely.