Property Market Highlights
- Average selling prices across key Scottish regions climbed 3.6% year-on-year to £283,335
- First-time buyers help drive a 67% rise in property sales in the Scottish Borders
- Orkney tops post-pandemic growth with property prices up nearly 64% since 2020
- Campbeltown named Scotland’s cheapest coastal town, with property averaging just £103,078
Prices Climb Steadily Across Scotland, with Edinburgh & The Borders Leading the Way
Scottish property prices are continuing their gentle but determined climb this spring, with average selling prices across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and the Borders rising by 3.6% year-on-year to £283,335, according to ESPC’s latest data.
Edinburgh remains the country’s most expensive market, with homes fetching an average of £301,077, while buyers looking for excellent value may want to turn their sights to West Fife & Kinross, where average prices come in at just £216,193.
Several areas have reported particularly strong gains, with the Scottish Borders enjoying an 8.1% increase, reaching £227,616, while Midlothian and West Lothian saw prices rise by 6.0% and 5.2% respectively.
Meanwhile, Edinburgh’s City Centre continues to deliver standout growth. Property in neighbourhoods such as the New Town, West End and Comely Bank saw prices jump by 8.4% on average to £341,289 – a reflection of sustained demand for homes in the capital’s most desirable postcodes.
However, even in areas where average prices dipped, such as East Lothian and East Fife, hyper-local trends revealed some surprising success stories. Dalkeith, for instance, posted a staggering 22.5% annual increase, with homes now selling for an average of £282,662.
Bonnyrigg also saw a healthy 7.8% uplift, showing that strong demand is very much alive in pockets across the region.
First-Time Buyers Spark Sales Surge in the Scottish Borders
The Borders Telegraph recently reported that the local region is buzzing with activity, thanks in no small part to first-time buyers re-entering the market with confidence.
According to new figures from industry experts, property sales in the region soared by 67% in Q1 2025 compared to the same period last year – an eye-catching surge driven by a combination of lower mortgage rates, strong demand and accessible prices.
Properties across the region are not only attracting more viewings, they’re also selling faster and often above asking price, with the average sale coming in at 3.2% over home report value. Meanwhile, in-demand rural properties, especially smallholdings with up to 50 acres, are outperforming expectations, achieving sale prices up to 8.8% above asking.
According to one local estate agent, the region’s rising popularity is thanks to its “value for money and semi-rural lifestyle,” which continues to appeal to buyers from both within the area and further afield, including Edinburgh.
With healthy stock levels and quick completion times (averaging just 6–8 weeks), the Borders are shaping up to be one of the strongest performing markets this summer.
Orkney Leads the Nation in House Price Growth Since 2020
While Scotland’s big cities tend to dominate headlines, it’s the Orkney Islands that have quietly become the country’s property growth champions, according to a piece published by STV News last month.
Since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020, the average house price in Orkney has risen by an incredible 63.9%, reaching £215,580 in March 2025 – nearly triple the national average increase of 22.4%.
The rise hasn’t been a straight line, but it’s been significant. Following a brief slump in 2020, prices in Orkney surged through 2021 and 2022, with back-to-back monthly increases of over 30% and 20% respectively. After a short correction in 2023, values began climbing again, peaking with a 14.3% rise in January 2025.
While smaller markets like Orkney can be prone to sharp swings due to fewer sales and the impact of high-end transactions, estate agents on the islands say the growth reflects genuine and sustained demand.
One local expert notes that prices have “shot up to an unbelievable level” due to a steady year-round market and the appeal of island living following the pandemic.
With property prices here now outpacing both Shetland (26.1%) and the Western Isles (36.2%), Orkney’s long-term prospects remain strong for sellers.
Scotland’s Cheapest Coastal Towns Revealed – Starting From Just Over £100K
If you’ve always dreamed of living by the sea, Scotland’s coastline might offer more affordable options than you think.
According to a piece by The Scotsman, The Bank of Scotland’s latest Coastal Homes Review revealed the ten most budget-friendly seaside towns, with property prices well below the national average and bags of charm to boot.
Here are the top 10 cheapest coastal towns in Scotland:
- Campbeltown – £103,078
- Rothesay (Isle of Bute) – £111,764
- Millport (Great Cumbrae) – £114,008
- Port Bannatyne (Isle of Bute) – £115,421
- Girvan (South Ayrshire) – £116,211
- Greenock (Inverclyde) – £117,751
- Ardrossan (North Ayrshire) – £124,532
- Wick (Caithness) – £126,708
- Stranraer (Dumfries & Galloway) – £128,888
- Saltcoats (North Ayrshire) – £129,194
Compared to hotspots like St Andrews, where the average coastal property fetches over £450,000, these towns offer exceptional value for money.
And while some locations, such as Girvan and Saltcoats, have seen price increases in the past year, the overall affordability of these communities continues to draw interest from local first-time buyers, remote workers and families seeking a slower pace of life.
For sellers in these areas, rising demand for coastal living could bring fresh momentum to the market. And for buyers, now could be the perfect time to secure a seaside escape at a more manageable price.
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