Property Asking Prices On The Up

Property asking prices rose 0.8% last month, the fourth monthly increase in a row, according to the latest house price index from FindaProperty.com based on data from over 400,000 homes across the country.

Asking prices have not risen faster than this since April 2009, when they jumped 1% in a single month. Last month's increase is the second-highest monthly price rise since FindaProperty.com's index began in December 2007.

The average property in April 2011 was on the market for £220,281, up over £1,750 on the previous month - or almost £59 a day. This figure varies by region, with asking prices in London jumping by just under £500 in the month while in Scotland the increase was over £3,000.

In the past four months asking prices have picked up speed, rising 0.3% in January, 0.5% in February and 0.7% in March. Prices are also up 0.2% on April last year.

There were particularly big increases in Scotland, where asking prices rose 2.2%, and the North East of England, which saw a rise of 2%. The only region that saw asking prices fall was the North West, were there was a 0.1% dip.

Both houses and flats saw prices rise in April, with houses on the market for 0.9% more than the month before and flats on the market for 0.4% more. Meanwhile stock levels have also risen for the fourth consecutive month, up 2.3% in April.