They are also expected to increase again in the next three months.
RICS Northern Ireland Residential Property Spokesman, Samuel Dickey, said: "Activity appears to have been picking up marginally, and surveyors expect a further increase. Indeed, buyer demand is strengthening.
"However, the ongoing lack of new instructions continues to be an issue, which will likely limit activity and push prices higher. RICS expects Northern Ireland house prices to rise by average of 11% during the course of 2015."
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Derek Wilson, Head of Lending Products at Ulster Bank, said: "Mortgage lending in Northern Ireland picked up in the second quarter of the year according to the latest figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders, and our experience at Ulster Bank is that the third quarter saw a further increase in activity.
"The levels of mortgage demand that we are currently experiencing also points to a strong few months ahead. As a bank, we offer choice to customers and to support them in getting a mortgage they can live with. That's why we have launched our biggest-ever range of mortgage options, with some of our lowest-ever rates."
