Let me say, first of all, that my opinion on this is based on what I have seen happening in the property market over several years. Let me also say that, whether you want to put your property on the market now or in Spring, if it is well marketed and correctly priced, it will sell. The question here is not whether, if you put your property on the market in January rather than April, or vice versa, you have made a mistake. The question is rather: if you would be happy to consider putting your property on the market sooner than Spring, is this going to be a bad decision?

As I write my first property market update of 2012, I have just listened to to The Beatles' 'Here Comes the Sun' and have been unable to resist a little wry smile. For those of you whose properties are still standing and have an entire roof after the hurricane and extreme weather that we saw in December, I hope you'll enjoy this month's update.  And, finally, happy new year to you all!

I thought I'd start with a wee update about what's happening in the property market in Scotland so far in 2012 and then, if you're interested, I'd suggest reading my article about The Million Dollar Question that everyone is asking at the moment: is it is best to wait until Spring to sell your property or should you just go ahead and put your property on the market now?

This month's a bumper month for you lucky readers, as I'm going to be away on holiday at the time when our December property market update would usually be sent out meaning there won't be a December property market update. Boooooo hooooo, I can hear you scream amid much gnashing of teeth and wringing of hands.  Well, don't fret, we're cramming loads into the November edition to keep you going.  This month you'll get: the property market update for November, Home Reports at Three Years Old - Should They be Scrapped?, what the government's 95% mortgage scheme to help first time buyers on to the property market means for you in Scotland and why it's totally bonkers, and finally my predictions for the property market in 2012.  Read on and (hopefully) enjoy!

The UK Government recently announced that it is launching a scheme to help First Time Buyers on to the housing ladder. It also is aimed at stimulating the building industry. First Time Buyers are to be given 95% loan-to-value mortgages for properties in new-build developments that are covered by the scheme. In turn, the government is guaranteeing to the lenders (who would not normally lend 95% to such buyers) that if the property is sold for less than the amount of the mortgage, they will cover the shortfall. So, dear reader, how will this help you?

Here's the funky new video, giving just a few reasons why, if you're thinking of selling your property in Edinburgh, West Lothian, East Lothian, Midlothian or the Scottish Borders you should give MOV8 Real Estate, Estate Agents and Solicitors, a call first!

It's nearly three years now since the introduction of Home Reports in Scotland. The general consensus in the property and estate agency industry is that they have been bad news. So it might surprise you to know that, as someone who runs a firm of estate agents, I actually think that the Home Reports have been good for the Scottish property market. Why?

HSBC bank has reported that more than 350,000 home owners in the UK who bought a property in 2007 are in negative equity:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/borrowing/mortgages/8888537/More-than-350000-home-owners-in-negative-equity.html

What does this mean and what should you do if you find yourself in this position?

HALF PRICE HOME REPORTS FOR THE REST OF 2011!!!

Greek crisis. Italian crisis. French banks in crisis. Protestors sitting in cathedrals and not going anywhere. X Factor scandals...

It seems that the focus of our media has been so distracted by potential melt-down, disaster and insipid covers of Ed Sheeran songs that they've forgotten to resort to unduly negative stories about the property market to attract readers. For the first time in a long time, therefore, I have very little to rant about this month. Collective sigh of relief...

But that isn't going to stop me letting you know what we've been seeing happening in the Scottish property market in this past month. So here we go...

I found a fascinating graph today on Twitter, created and posted by Henry Pryor, one of the UK's most well-known property market commentators (@HenryPryor).  The graph tracks the levels of supply and demand for property since 2004.  It basically seems to show that (a) you are just a likely to sell your property now as you were during some of the 'boom' times, and (b) levels of buyer interest in buying property are pretty consistent throughout the year, even through the winter months when many sellers are thinking that it's best to wait till spring to try and sell.  First the graph, then the comment...!