Drip, drip, drop, little April shower. Well, it's been less of a shower and more of a deluge both out of the Scottish clouds and also in the Scottish property market this past month.

So, what's been happening in the Scottish property market this month? Well, if that's the question you're asking, you're in the right place. If it's not the question you're asking, you could perhaps just read this anyway and then have a wee look on Wikipedia for the answer to your other question...?

It's coming to the end of March and we really are full of the joys of spring! The hottest day on record for March, several days of sunshine...it's hard not to be optimistic in this kind of weather. The only thing to worried about is that we are peaking too soon!

So what's been happening in the Scottish property market this month? There has been good news coming out of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors about the health of the property market across the UK. We have also had the Budget for 2012 which contained some property-related provisions that affect some property buyers and sellers, particularly toward the top end of the market. And we have seen very healthy activity levels, both in terms of sales and purchases within our own office. So let's cover all of those areas below...

George Osborne yesterday revealed his Budget for 2012.  The Budget included an increase in the 0% rate of tax and cuts to corporation tax, all of which are very welcome from a business and personal point-of-view.  However, given that we sell properties in Scotland for our clients, it's the impact of wider changes to property-related taxes that we really keep an eye out for.  Below is a summary of how these changes might affect YOU as a potential property buyer or seller in Scoltand.

It's a short month, February, but it's been a good one. As well as being an Olympic year, most importantly our clients have an extra day in which to sell their properties. Nice!

So what's been happening in the property market in Scotland in February? Below is our wee recap of the month from the point of view of someone working at the sharp end of the property sales industry.

Let me say, first of all, that my opinion on this is based on what I have seen happening in the property market over several years. Let me also say that, whether you want to put your property on the market now or in Spring, if it is well marketed and correctly priced, it will sell. The question here is not whether, if you put your property on the market in January rather than April, or vice versa, you have made a mistake. The question is rather: if you would be happy to consider putting your property on the market sooner than Spring, is this going to be a bad decision?

As I write my first property market update of 2012, I have just listened to to The Beatles' 'Here Comes the Sun' and have been unable to resist a little wry smile. For those of you whose properties are still standing and have an entire roof after the hurricane and extreme weather that we saw in December, I hope you'll enjoy this month's update.  And, finally, happy new year to you all!

I thought I'd start with a wee update about what's happening in the property market in Scotland so far in 2012 and then, if you're interested, I'd suggest reading my article about The Million Dollar Question that everyone is asking at the moment: is it is best to wait until Spring to sell your property or should you just go ahead and put your property on the market now?

This month's a bumper month for you lucky readers, as I'm going to be away on holiday at the time when our December property market update would usually be sent out meaning there won't be a December property market update. Boooooo hooooo, I can hear you scream amid much gnashing of teeth and wringing of hands.  Well, don't fret, we're cramming loads into the November edition to keep you going.  This month you'll get: the property market update for November, Home Reports at Three Years Old - Should They be Scrapped?, what the government's 95% mortgage scheme to help first time buyers on to the property market means for you in Scotland and why it's totally bonkers, and finally my predictions for the property market in 2012.  Read on and (hopefully) enjoy!

The UK Government recently announced that it is launching a scheme to help First Time Buyers on to the housing ladder. It also is aimed at stimulating the building industry. First Time Buyers are to be given 95% loan-to-value mortgages for properties in new-build developments that are covered by the scheme. In turn, the government is guaranteeing to the lenders (who would not normally lend 95% to such buyers) that if the property is sold for less than the amount of the mortgage, they will cover the shortfall. So, dear reader, how will this help you?

Here's the funky new video, giving just a few reasons why, if you're thinking of selling your property in Edinburgh, West Lothian, East Lothian, Midlothian or the Scottish Borders you should give MOV8 Real Estate, Estate Agents and Solicitors, a call first!

It's nearly three years now since the introduction of Home Reports in Scotland. The general consensus in the property and estate agency industry is that they have been bad news. So it might surprise you to know that, as someone who runs a firm of estate agents, I actually think that the Home Reports have been good for the Scottish property market. Why?