A leading Angus property firm has revealed activity in the local market has increased by more than a third in the last year.
Thorntons, which has offices in Arbroath and Forfar, has sold 32% more homes in 2014 compared with the same time 12 months ago.
Flats and detached houses are selling extremely well and an increase in consumer confidence has been highlighted as one of the reasons for this market boost.
Poppy Fotheringham, property manager at Thorntons, said: “The activity in the Angus market is extremely encouraging. It’s clear to see consumer confidence is returning and that’s reflected in the year-on-year figures.
“We are seeing more and more first-time buyers coming to the market eager to take that step on to the property ladder. Flats are selling well with an increase in sales of 34% compared to last year and detached properties are continuing to be popular, with sales up 28% over the last 12 months.
“The mid-range of the market is the busiest at the moment, with buyers looking to spend between £125,000 and £200,000.
“We have also seen a rise in the number of viewings over the last three months and closing dates are becoming more common as multiple buyers are interested in one property. Despite the growth, the majority of properties are selling around the Home Report valuation so we have yet to see evidence of prices rising substantially, but we are confident that if the market continues to move forward, this will come.”
Just last month it was revealed Angus has led the way in a Tayside area that has seen prime property sales rocket in the past year, fuelled by demand from Scotland’s oil capital.
Experts said Angus’s close proximity to Aberdeen has resulted in the district reaping the benefit of the busiest 12-month spell in the market since 2007.
The upbeat Courier country picture was revealed at a Savills Scottish property outlook held in Perth, where Faisal Choudhry, the company’s head of research in Scotland, said Angus, Perthshire and Kinross had all benefited from the strength of the Aberdeen market.
He told delegates there had been a 36% annual increase in sales, as well as a return to closing dates.