Perthshire’s property boom showed no signs of slowing down after a dream half-a-million pound home changed hands in just two days.
Leading property consultants CKD Galbraith said that the four-bedroom Knowehead Grange was one of several properties which sold in record time.
And the company revealed that almost half of all their buyers were now coming from south of the border.
The head of residential sales at the firm’s Perth office, Emma Chalmers, said that properties in and around the city were, on average, selling in an impressive five weeks during the first quarter of the year.
It comes just days after Aberdein Considine claimed the rate of sales was similar to Aberdeen during peak period times for the oil and gas industry.
Ms Chalmers said her company’s latest figures showed that the number of sales and property prices were continuing to rise.
“The outlook in Perthshire is extremely positive and the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (the new Scottish system which replaces Stamp Duty) is helping to create a very active market for homes under £300,000,” she said. “During the first quarter of this year, there was a significant increase in property viewings and the number of sales compared to figures from the same period of 2014.”
She added: “Although quarter one saw the supply of property remain fairly consistent with previous quarters, buyer interest and activity has been very strong with the firm’s viewing figures up since the final quarter of 2014 by nearly 10%.”
Ms Chalmers added: “The rise in potential buyers is to be expected as the traditionally busy spring period commences, however what is particularly striking is just how quickly some properties are selling for.
“For example, the Perth office recently sold Knowehead Grange in two days for £485,000, this was 3% above the guide price.”
She said: “It isn’t only local and Scottish buyers registering with the Perth office and snapping up properties such as Knowehead Grange, English buyers make up nearly half of our registered buyers.”
Around 37% of sales made by the Perthshire branch so far this year has involved cash payments.
Aberdein Considine said Perth and Kinross had become a true buyer’s market, with the average price of a detached home now just under £260,000.
Last month, the average time it took to bring properties under offer was a mere six days, Perth branch manager James McKay said.
He said the new transaction tax had eased the tax burden on those buying homes priced below £300,000.
The Perthshire Solicitors Property Centre has also revealed an upturn in the housing market.
Manager Anne Begg said: “Values really are holding their own, which is promising for those considering selling up this spring.”