House values are set to surge again  as the latest statewide real estate figures show many regions have successfully weathered the double blow of soaring petrol prices and interest rate hikes.

The median price of a Queensland house rose by 10-20% in most regions in the past year despite a slowdown in the last quarter, according to Real Estate of Queensland figures released exclusively to The Sunday Mail today.

The solid figures have propmpted property experts to predict houses prices will rise strongly this year. REIQ chairman Peter McGrath said the message for would-be homeowners was simple: "The market has bottomed..... the sooner they can move back into the market, the better."