House prices in Scotland increased by an average of around £50,000 in the past 10 years, the latest figures suggest.

Even accounting for the financial crash, there was a 52.9% rise in residential property prices as they went from £100,987 in 2003/04 to £154,387 this year, according to a new report by Registers of Scotland.

It may be encouraging news for homeowners who bought during the boom years, as they still look set to benefit handsomely because prices generally levelled off rather than slumped badly since 2007.

There are also signs emerging now that suggest confidence may be returning to the residential property market and the wider economy that could mean more house price growth is on the way.

Blair Stewart, national partner at Strutt & Parker Edinburgh, said there are early signs of recovery appearing now but he added that there is still a two-tier housing market in Scotland.

"Homes valued between three and nine hundred thousand in the central belt are very sought after. Above that, there is a great deal of caution," he revealed.

Aberdeen City enjoyed the highest increase in average prices across Scotland, with properties doubling in price in the past 10 years from an average of £91,573 in 2003/04 to £187,298 today.

Glasgow City was at the other end of the scale with the smallest average increase as property values rose by 25% to reach £126,930, according to the figures.

Registers of Scotland's director of commercial services, Kenny Crawford, said the report provides the most complete picture possible of the residential property market and it clearly shows a decade split into two very different parts separated by the credit crunch.

"We'll see in the coming years whether the improving signs recorded in 2012/13 signify the beginnings of a recovery or a fresh stability to the Scottish market," he commented.

Flats accounted for the biggest share of property sales since 2003, responsible for 40.2% of the market.

The data also shows that there has been a fall in the number of property sales overall as fewer buyers entered the market.

Sales fell from 130,319 in 2003/04 to 73,199 in 2012/13, with the lowest volume of sales revealed to be 11,791 during the fourth quarter of 2008/09.

Nevertheless there was a doubling in the number of residential properties in Scotland selling for more than £1 million over the decade, rising from 52 in 2003/04 to 105 in 2012/13.

The City of Edinburgh was home to the largest number of such sales, although its share declined from 55% in 2003/04 to 44% in 2012/13, while Aberdeen City's share rose from 3% to 14%.