Enquiries from prospective house buyers in Scotland accelerated at the quickest rate seen in nearly four years last month, according to the latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) residential market survey.
A net balance of 37% of respondents in Scotland reported that new buyer enquiries rose through the month of June, up from 25% in May. This is the highest this balance has been since July 2021.
There was also a rise in the supply of residential properties coming onto the market in Scotland, with a net balance of 17% of Scottish surveyors reporting an increase in new instructions to sell.
With more sellers and potential buyers active in the market, it is perhaps unsurprising to that newly agreed home sales in Scotland were seen to rise in number in June too. A net balance of 39% of Scottish surveyors reported an increase in newly agreed sales, the highest this balance has been in nearly five years (since September 2020).
Surveyors in Scotland also appear to be optimistic on the sales outlook as a net balance of 40% of respondents anticipate sales to rise through the third quarter of the year, up from 34% in the previous survey.
When it comes to pricing, a net balance of 25% of surveyors in Scotland report that prices rose through Q2 2025. Looking ahead, a net balance of 19% of survey respondents anticipate that prices will continue rising through Q3.
Regarding the rental market, Scottish surveyors report that tenant demand fell flat through June, whilst landlord instructions were seen to have fallen. Subsequently, a net balance of 33% of respondents anticipate rents to rise over the next quarter.
Commenting on the sales market, Alan Kennedy, MRICS of Shepherd Chartered Surveyors in Fraserburgh said: “A shortage of properties coming on to the market in recent weeks is resulting in quick sales for good quality houses, particularly bungalows and rural housing.”
Marion Currie, AssocRICS, RICS Registered Valuer of Galbraith in Dumfries & Galloway added: “Quality stock is attracting interest from buyers in proceedable positions. The new
instructions launched through June are doing well, with more in the pipeline, pointing to a healthy market to see out the summer months.”
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Discussing the rental market, Carolyn Davies, MRICS of Savills in Dumfries commented: “There is a continued lack of supply within the rural marketplace and landlords are considering repurposing properties out of the private rented sector or selling when they get vacant possession.”
Commenting on the UK picture, Tarrant Parsons, RICS Head of Market Research & Analysis, said: “The UK residential market appears to be entering a more settled phase, with demand showing signs of stabilising following a period of volatility. The earlier distortion caused by transactions being brought forward ahead of the Stamp Duty changes now appears to have largely dissipated, allowing underlying trends to re-emerge.
“Encouragingly, near-term sales expectations have begun to edge higher, pointing to a modest shift in sentiment. That said, confidence in the market remains somewhat delicate, with economic uncertainty at both the domestic and global level still seen as a potential headwind.“
