HOUSE prices in York are going up at half the average national rate, according to new figures.

Statistics released by the Land Registry show the price of homes in the city rose by 3.6 per cent over the last year compared to a national average increase of 6.8 per cent. In November, prices actually dropped by 0.1 per cent meaning the average house price in York was £181,285 compared to £181,517 for October.

Edward Waterson, the regional representative for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, said the average figures for York are broadly accurate, but that there are large variations in some property types.

He said: "The £1 million properties have gone up by as much as 20 per cent but, on the other hand, good quality modern properties built in the 70s and 80s have probably moved very little in value.

"It's particularly the case with four-bedroom detached houses where there's a fairly plentiful supply, they are not the height of fashion and in order to see prices increase you need to see demand outstrip supply."

But homes suitable for first time buyers have increased in price with Mr Waterson estimating they had gone up from around £140,000 to £150,000.

The region as a whole shows a different picture.

In North Yorkshire prices rose by 0.1 per cent in November and there was an annual increase of 5.1 per cent.

Figures for the East Riding show it is broadly in line with the national average with a November increase of 0.6 per cent and an annual rate of 6.7 per cent.

But there were differences in individual areas.

Amelia White, of Mark Stephenson and Co, which has offices in Malton and Pickering, said on average prices have fallen by around 5 per cent in the last year. She said there were currently four-bedroom houses on the market at between £210,000 and £220,000 compared to around £230,000 a year ago.

But homes for first time buyers were holding their value because of a lack of suitable properties.

In the Selby area, Kelly White, an estate agent with Halifax, said the market was relatively stable with little changes in the amounts houses are being sold for.

The picture was the same around Pocklington where estate agent Chris Clubley said the only real increases were at the lower end of the market where the cheapest homes had increased by probably a little more than the 6.8 per cent national average. But mid and upper-range homes have remained stable.

He added: "I feel that house market is going to be sluggish over the next year and we're probably going to see prices hold their own."