Annual statistics compiled by Dundee-based Tayside Solicitors Property Centre (TSPC) show it handled the sale of homes worth £438.5 million in 2017.

The TSPC and member law firms handled the sale of 2,829 properties over the past 12 months, a rise of 3.6% on 2016.

Lynne Hill, manager at the TSPC Whitehall Crescent Centre, said the average Tayside house price advanced 6.5% year on year to £155,000.

“The property market in Dundee, Angus and north Fife is in good health as we enter 2018,” said Hill.

“Over the last quarter the TSPC noted sales up by 15% and we are hopeful that the trend will continue in the months ahead.

“Certainly the early indications are promising.

“Across the region we are still seeing closing dates from our member firms and many properties are going under offer quickly …

“We saw a very strong performance during 2017, with the average price of a property in the region moving upwards in each of the quarterly segments.

“Overall, the TSPC handled the sale of properties worth £438,478,577.

“The trend was also very positive in terms of numbers coming into the market and being sold.

“While there was a brief lull over the summer, the market finished the year on a high with 867 homes changing hands over the closing three month period.”

While the price of the average villa slipped by nearly 0.5% year on year, strong demand in the sector saw sales rise 10%.

A total of 419 detached villas were sold, with an average price of £255,444.

The price of the average flat, with nearly 1,000 sold, was £103,533 – up nearly 10%.

Demand for detached bungalows pushed the average price in that sector up 10% to £211,091.