House prices across England and Wales tiptoed down in March, according to the Land Registry. However, according to Nationwide’s report, out this morning, house prices went up in April to stand at £183,577 – a monthly rise of 1.2% and an annual rise of 10.9%

According to the Land Registry, March’s average prices dipped 0.4% to stand at £169,124.

However, annually, prices were still 5.6% above March last year.

In March, the worst monthly falls (4.2%) were in Wales, while the highest price increases were in the east and north-east. In London, prices were up by 0.6% on the month, but by 12.4% annually.

The number of property transactions has continued to increase. From last October to this January, there was an average of 74,941 sales per month, compared with 55,824 for the same period a year earlier.

In January itself, the latest month for which the Land Registry has transaction data, there were 63,123 sales – up 46% from 43,373 in January 2013.

The Land Registry data also shows the grip on the conveyancing market that My Home Move has.

It was easily the Land Registry’s top customer in terms of transactions for value, followed – at some distance – by Countrywide Property Lawyers.

According to today’s Nationwide report, there remains huge regional variations. It says that in the first quarter of this year, prices in London were around 20% of the pre-crisis levels, but in the UK as a whole, they remained 2% lower.

The report also says that it is higher-priced properties in London and the south east that have accounted for a higher proportion of sales. In London, properties costing over £500,000 now account for 25% of sales, and properties over £1m account for more than 6% of sales.