Perthshire's property market 'healthier' than a year ago
Perthshire's property market is in a significantly healthier state than a year ago, according to local property specialists.
- By Mark Mackay
- Published in the Courier : 08.11.10
- Published online : 13.11.10 @ 05.34pm
There has been no sign of an early freeze on the market as winter approaches, as house sales appear to be booming across the area.
Perthshire Solicitors Property Centre has sold over £120 million worth of homes during the first three quarters of the year.
The end-of-October statistics, which show that 108 properties were sold in October alone, generating income of just under £17 million, provide ongoing proof that the market is picking up, the centre claims.
More properties were sold during that month than in the three individual months of July, August and September, with each quarter's picture brighter than the last.
Combined, £123 million worth of homes were sold during the first three quarters of the year, some 28% up on the same period of 2009.
PSPC manager Anne Begg is predicting that over £150 million worth of properties will have been sold before the year is out.
Ms Begg said, "These latest figures illustrate a significantly healthier picture than this time last year.
"At the moment, there is no evidence of a double-dip recession hitting this area of Scotland or affecting our property market.
"The October figures are particularly good in light of the earlier-than-usual school holidays, followed by the public schools' October break.
"These events traditionally affect the local market, with the number of people viewing homes dropping while families spend time together.
"In terms of the immediate future, things will typically quieten down during the winter months, although there is still time to secure a new home for Christmas if people act now."
There are also indications of confidence in the housebuilding sector, with a flood of new development proposals being submitted to Perth and Kinross Council's planning department.
A meeting of the local authority's development control committee on Wednesday will consider five individual applications of housing at locations throughout Perth and Kinross.
They include plans for 16 homes on the site of the former Friarton Nursery in Perth and a larger plan for 79 mainstream and 24 affordable homes at Lynedoch Road, Methven.
Councillors will also consider plans for residential developments at Greenloaning and Coupar Angus and a significant development of 41 retirement flats at Kinross.
Further developments and houses are still expected to come to the market, with Perth and Kinross said to be the fastest-growing local authority area in Scotland.
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