The average house price in Scotland fell in the first three months of this year, according to Registers of Scotland.

The total value of sales from January to March 2010 was up 30.9% on the same quarter of 2009, to £2.16bn.

Official figures show over the 12 month period that the average cost of buying rose by 5.4%.

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A total of 4,662 homes were registered as sold in Scotland during the first three months of this year, an increase of 24.3% year on year - which had been the lowest period on record since 2003.

At £147,854 on average Edinburgh remains the most expensive place to buy a home.

Houses in Inverclyde saw the biggest hike in price - up 27.7% in contrast with house prices in Orkney Islands which saw the steepest fall - down 13.4%.

(GK)