It’s a golf- lover’s dream home — but they might need deep pockets. A one-bedroom flat just yards from the famous 18th green on the Old Course in St Andrews has gone up for sale – with offers over £825,000 being sought.
The period property at 24 Golf Place is thought to be one of the most expensive homes of its type in Tayside and Fife, but estate agents say they are expecting plenty of interest, thanks to its proximity to the Home of Golf.
Property experts Savils say the setting of the C-listed property, on the corner of Golf Place and The Links, the road which runs up the edge of the 18th fairway of the Old Course, is “extraordinary”.
It boasts a kitchen/living room with arched windows there and in the double bedroom.
Another, stronger, selling point may be the fact that full-time residents are eligible to apply for a Links Ticket which gives playing rights on all of the golf courses for a “modest” annual fee.
The Open is regularly staged at St Andrews and will return to the Old Course in 2021, meaning the new owner won’t have to go far to see the best players in the world in action.
To put the cost into context, house hunters can snap up a two-bedroom semi-detached house in Methil for as little as £66,000 at the moment. A similar sum will land them a three-bedroom home in Oakley.
News of the sale comes as property consultancy Galbraith has revealed “strong demand and sustained activity” in the Fife property market, despite concerns over Brexit.
The firm’s sales analysis for its most recent quarter shows sales rose 22.7% year on year and prices by 2.35%
George Lorimer, who leads the sales and lettings team for Fife, said it was “very much business as usual” in the kingdom.
“The anticipated Brexit slowdown just hasn’t happened in Fife,” he said.
“Sales are concluding rapidly in most cases, particularly in the £400,000 to £600,000 bracket.”
He said there had been a 44% increase in properties coming on to the market and the number of appraisals carried out by the firm had increased by 17.2% year on year.
“This shows the strength and depth of confidence in the market in Fife and that life continues no matter what the politicians decide,” he added.
Mr Lorimer said Fife was flourishing for a number of reasons, including its links to Dundee and Edinburgh, traditional architecture and outstanding quality of life.
“Living close to St Andrews, one of Scotland’s most beautiful towns offers wonderful opportunities to visit the historic buildings and museums, not to mention the superb golf courses in St Andrews and across Fife,” he said.
“The region also has beautiful beaches, attractive countryside and good opportunities for outdoor pursuits in the Lomond Hills and elsewhere.
“The East Neuk villages are perennially popular, with properties in Elie, Anstruther and Pittenweem particularly prized.”
Galbraith has also reported the average time taken to sell in Fife fell by 27% year on year, while property viewings rose by 19.2%
