The Herald - The Herald Magazine
THE VOICE OF PROPERTY
THE Scottish Borders has seen an extraordinary upsurge in demand in the last year – and is still rising, according to local solicitor agent Hastings Legal. The firm says the first quarter of 2022 has seen the highest level of sales activity and prices achieved since their records began, including the boom years up to 2008. “With sales taking on average around 14 days – and some a lot faster – the lifestyle, scenery, access to countryside and outdoor pursuits are attracting buyers from all over Britain,” says managing director Ron Hastings.
“In the first quarter of this year almost 50 per cent of buyers came from outwith the Borders. While price premiums are generally achieving 10-15 per cent over HR values, the pandemic resulted in extremes. A threebedroomed semi-detached property with a HR value of £295,000 achieved £400,000 and sold to a cash buyer from south of the border on the first day of marketing,” he says. “Prices achieved depend on demand and in the main, this has been driven by buyers coming from higher value areas such as Edinburgh and the South.”
THIS week saw the launch of a free and publicly accessible register of landowners in Scotland – officially entitled a Register of Persons Holding a Controlled Interest (RCI) which endeavours to make clear who manages and uses land, including overseas entities and trusts. Mairi McAllan, environment and land reform minister, said: “I want to ensure that there can no longer be categories of landowner or tenant where, intentionally or otherwise, control of decision-making is obscured. The register will make Scotland a frontrunner in Europe and deliver greater transparency. It enables the public to look behind land ownership and identify those who ultimately make decisions.”
LOOKING for a renovation project? An historic farm cottage in Gogar, close to the Edinburgh city bypass, could be the perfect way to achieve an idyllic dual lifestyle. Surrounded by open fields and benefitting from a large garden, 1 Roddinglaw Cottages comprises living room, kitchen, bathroom, and two bedrooms – all in need of some renovation and modernisation, without being overwhelming. Offers over £245,000 are invited by Mov8 Real Estate in Edinburgh.