Further recovery in the property market is predicted for 2015 by a north-east Fife legal firm.
Pagan Osborne saw property prices in St Andrews increase by 11.4% on 2013’s figures, while in Cupar the number of homes listed for sale rose by 14%.
The number of properties sold in all three Fife branches including Anstruther rose, with a 29% lift in Cupar.
Head of property sales in Fife, Linda Black, said: “In all three offices, there was a significant increase in the number of properties being sold on or above the initial asking price.
“In our St Andrews branch, for example, 73% of properties were sold at or over the asking price, compared with 53% of homes in 2013.
“In Anstruther, 59% sold on or above the asking price, an increase from 51% the previous year.
“In Cupar, 36% of listed properties sold for above the initial price.
“Overall, we can take from these results a sign that buyer and seller confidence in the property market is finally returning.”
More new build sales and buy-to-let purchases are expected by the firm this year.
It is also anticipated that those selling high-value properties will want to do so before the introduction of the land and building transaction tax in April.