More surveyors report price rises
More surveyors said UK house prices were rising in the three months to September than those reporting falling property values.
The proportion turned positive for the first time for two years, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors' (Rics) survey found.
The change was driven by price rises in the South East of England and shortages of homes for sale.
The government's own figures showed a 1.4% rise in prices from June to July.
"Although it is clear that house prices are now rising, it continues to be a lack of supply that is underpinning the recovery in most parts of the country," said Rics spokesman Jeremy Leaf.
He said that more sellers were considering putting their properties on the market but this could "present a challenge" to rising house prices when interest rates increased
'More sales'
The National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) said that first-time buyers had returned to the market, followed by home movers.
Families wishing to upgrade or young couples needing a bigger house to raise a family were active in the market again, according to NAEA president Gary Smith.
This was backed up by the Rics survey which showed that more surveyors were reporting enquiries from new buyers.
The actual number of sales was also up - with surveyors selling an average of 17 each in the last three months. This was the most since May 2008 but still a third down on the position at the beginning of 2008.
Sales were highest per surveyor in the East Midlands and West Midlands, with the lowest number of sales per surveyor reported in London.
