Scottish property firm CKD Galbraith said yesterday it saw a 50% year-on-year increase in the number of Aberdeen city and shire homes it put up for sale in the final quarter of 2015.
And the properties sold faster than a year earlier, with the average home taking nearly three weeks less to sell, the firm added.
Hannah Christiansen, head of residential at CKD Galbraith’s Aberdeen office, said the local market had continued to show “positive results” despite the downturn in the oil and gas industry.
She added: “We have been greatly encouraged by the increase in the number of properties coming onto the market and there has been a healthy appetite from buyers viewing properties.
“Good properties at the lower end of the market continue to sell well, with good viewing levels and strong offers.
“The higher end of the market does continue to move, albeit its taking slightly longer. People are still moving home in Aberdeen and excellent property, in both city and rural locations, continues to be in demand.”
Last week, Registers of Scotland figures showed residential sales north of the border were up by 14.5%, compared with a year earlier, during the last three months of 2015.
Aberdeen city had the largest percentage drop in the volume of sales, falling 12% to 1,274. The average property price in the Granite City was £214,799, down from £218,804.
In Aberdeenshire, the average price was higher, but stayed the same at about £231,700.
Ms Christiansen said CKD Galbraith’s north-east figures bucked the wider trend, adding: “We have witnessed a strong start to the year and as we enter the prime spring selling period we are confident the market will see healthy activity, with a flurry of properties for sale prior to the introduction of the 3% levy on second homes coming into place in April.”
CKD Galbraith, which has 11 offices throughout Scotland, said its sales across the country were up by 17% in the final quarter of last year – in line with the national trend – and the average selling price rose by 19.8% to £384,000.