The Herald - The Herald Magazine
SCOTLAND’S VOICE OF PROPERTY ROUNDS UP THE WEEK’S NEWS
BREXIT may be crashing around us but many estate agents in Scotland are saying it appears to be having little or no impact on the property market north of the border.
Edinburgh-based Warners had a recordbreaking start to 2019 with the highest number of properties listed for sale in more than a decade – almost 40 per cent higher than the same month last year. Operations director David Warner, says: “There is a more even balance between supply and demand, leading to a healthier marketplace.”
Meanwhile Rettie’s latest sales bulletin reveals that to date, the Brexit effect has been muted to say the least. Rettie also reports Scottish cities have experienced some of the strongest price growth in the UK since the EU Referendum in 2016.
In Glasgow, Corum’s managing partner John Kelly, comments: “The reality is, we’re not seeing any evidence of a slowdown in market activity in Scotland – quite the opposite, in fact. In January, we commissioned more homes for sale than in any other January since Corum was founded in 2003. Our property listings for January and February so far are up an average of 36 per cent across all our offices, with areas like Shawlands and Pollokshields in Glasgow particularly busy.”
AYRSHIRE ON THE RISE
STRONG demand from Glasgow buyers boosted property sales in neighbouring Ayrshire, according to property consultancy Galbraith, which reports fourth quarter sales last year were up 54 per cent year-onyear – and rose 43 per cent compared to the preceding quarter.
Bob Cherry, head of residential sales and lettings for the firm in Ayrshire, comments: “We are seeing very strong demand and continued consumer confidence in Ayrshire and it seems this market upswing is related to the strength of the Glasgow market, particularly in the southside. As a result, many buyers have widened their search area to include northern and eastern Ayrshire within easy reach of the A77 – and once they start looking the affordability and lifestyle on offer becomes a major attraction.
“A budget of £450,000 in the south side of Glasgow can buy a lovely country home with some land in Ayrshire,” he adds.