The average price paid for houses in Scotland continued to decline in the year ending September 26, according to latest figures from the Registers of Scotland. The average figure was £149,546 — 4.3% lower than the previous 52-week period.

Unsurprisingly, there were some significant regional disparities. Average prices fell by 17% in Inverclyde, 13% in West Dunbartonshire, 10% in Renfrewshire 10%, 9.4% in North Ayrshire and 8.9% in East Lothian.

Elsewhere, the market was stronger. In Argyll and Bute, the fall was only 1.4%, in Angus it was 1.8%, Moray 2.2%, East Dunbartonshire 2.3% and South Lanarkshire 2.4%. The statistics have been compiled using sales between £20,000 and £1m to ensure that the average is not distorted by single transactions.

Figures for the 28-day period ending on September 26 show even more variation. Average prices paid in Inverclyde are 19% lower than in the previous 28-day period. In Dumfries and Galloway, there has been a month-on-month fall of 12% in average prices. In Stirling, it was 10%, while East Renfrewshire and East Ayrshire recorded 9% falls.

In Angus, however, the picture was completely different. Average prices were 13% up on the previous 28-day period. They had also risen in East Lothian (10%), Argyll and Bute (10%), Scottish Borders (7%) and Falkirk (5%).

It is usual to expect a modest rise in prices in September, compared with August.

It would be wrong to read too much into the figures, as the small number of transactions means the sample may not be representative. However, it seems clear that Scotland is a place of disparate markets that are moving at different speeds and in different directions.

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