Sales: Wintry weather blamed for property slump
The snowy start to the year caused the property market to grind to a "virtual halt", according to chartered surveyors.
Icy weather is being blamed for a blip in house buying which had picked up towards the end of 2009 and seen a gradual climb in prices.
The number of surveyors recording a rise in January dropped for the first time since September. Just 16% reported an increase, down from 25% in December.
The survey by Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) found 82% had seen prices stay the same and 1% witnessed a fall.
Surveyors also said buyer inquiries fell last month but remain optimistic about the market as the weather improves.
Chris Hall of Rettie and Co in Edinburgh said January was "exceptionally quiet", with the snow hindering activity.
Chris Highton, of Allied Surveyors Scotland in Selkirk, said one-and-a-half feet of snow and temperatures down to -14C had affected business.
But Alexander Inglis, of CKD Galbraith in Galashiels, said: "2010 has started promisingly, particularly at the lower end of the market.
"The heavy snow we have suffered has not been too harmful to sales.
"Many people are now getting ready to try the market and there seems to be more confidence around."
The closing months of 2009 saw the first year-on-year rise in house sales for any quarter since 2007.
Registers of Scotland statistics published last week revealed the average house price increased by 1.3% from October to December, bringing the national average to £155,618.
Sarah Speirs, from RICS Scotland, said: "The cold snap in January clearly had an impact upon both supply and demand in the housing market with activity virtually coming to a halt amidst the seasonal chaos.
"However, this was just a 'blip' and activity and interest is likely to pick up in the coming months as the market experiences a spring bounce.
"House prices are likely to rise in the short term but if more supply continues to come onto the market, it is possible that the market could run out of steam in the latter part of the year."
