Demand for "quality" affordable Highland homes
Property sales across the Highlands are being underpinned by a national demand for high quality affordable homes, according to Scotland’s leading independent property consultancy, CKD Galbraith.
CKD Galbraith’s Inverness office has reported a steady 14% increase in the number of properties sold during the first three months of 2016 compared with the same quarter of last year.
Phiddy Robertson, head of residential sales at CKD Galbraith’s Inverness office, said: “The first quarter of this year was particularly busy, January saw healthy interest from across the UK with new properties appearing on the market and properties that had not received offers during the quieter final months of 2015 receiving a noticeable increase in viewings and offers.
“The region continues to attract interest and buyers from across Scotland and the rest of the UK. 38% of buyers came from Scotland during the first quarter of the year, 56% were national buyers and 6% were international buyers. The Highlands offer an exceptional rural lifestyle, excellent value for money and cities such as Inverness offer a good range of amenities.”
During the same period, the Inverness lettings market experienced a surge in demand for high quality rental homes. The firm has reported securing tenancies for certain properties within 24 hours of them appearing on the market and receiving over 70 separate enquiries for others.
Flora Badger, head of lettings across the Highlands for CKD Galbraith, said: “The lettings market has been very buoyant since the start of the year and in particular we have noticed a steep increase in demand from tenants looking for larger properties. During the first three months of this year the number of lets secured in the region increased by an impressive 86% compared with the final quarter of 2015.
“Both young professionals and families are seeking country properties to rent, ideally traditional farm cottages with a bit of land. Renting continues to be a way of life for people in their 20s, 30s and even 40s. Therefore, tenants aren’t looking for temporary accommodation but somewhere homely where they can settle for longer periods of time.
“Generally, once tenants have found the right property they are extremely quick to act, demonstrating an understanding that competition for high quality lets in the region is extremely high.”
CKD Galbraith operates a network of regional offices located throughout the country and figures for the firm as a whole during the first quarter of 2016 demonstrate healthy growth and significant movement of home owners throughout Scotland. The firm has reported a 29% increase in the volume of sales achieved compared with the same period last year, with 36% of buyers coming from across the UK reflecting the wide appeal of the Scottish market.
