By Robert Adungo

Budding property buyers could benefit in the coming months as new figures from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) show supply of properties is increasing, with more houses coming onto the market.

According to the Rics December 2011 UK Housing Market Survey, transaction levels remained high as the average number of completed sales per surveyor in the fourth quarter of 2011 was recorded at 15.2.

This was slightly down on November's figure, although it remains close to its best level since autumn 2010. Rics said surveyors report that "unrealistic price expectations on the part of some vendors may be hindering transaction levels".

It also revealed that prices continued to fall across the country in December, with only London continuing to buck the trend. The biggest drops reported were in the West Midlands and Yorkshire and Humberside.

There's a glimmer of hope for aspiring buyers waiting for affordability to improve. Future price expectations remain low, with a net balance of -21% of surveyors expecting prices to continue falling over the coming three months.

"The increasing number of prospective sellers who placed their homes on the market in December is a positive development as a lack of stock has been a big issue in some parts of the country," says Rics housing spokesperson Ian Perry.

"But with sales expectations remaining flat, it is important that vendors are realistic in their pricing if they wish the sale to go through in good time."

Mortgage lending could also improve in the coming months as the Council of Mortgage Lenders revealed a positive trend, with November gross mortgage lending hitting £13 billion, the fourth consecutive year-on-year rise.