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Covid crisis feeds surge in property sales and enquiries in Highlands as people rethink their lives in lockdown; 'Some people now feel that working from home is the way ahead'


By Val Sweeney

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Tulloch Homes new development at The Maples, Ness-side.
Tulloch Homes new development at The Maples, Ness-side.

The coronavirus pandemic has triggered a boom in property inquiries and sales in the Highlands as people rethink their lives.

Inverness-based Tulloch Homes, the north's biggest housebuilder, sold more homes in the first two months of this year than it did for the same time last year.

Estate agents are also reporting pent-up demand combined with shortage in available properties is driving up prices.

The rush to snap up properties includes buyers looking to relocate to the Highlands for a better quality of life while others are seeking extra space to enable homeworking.

Tulloch Homes chief executive George Fraser said there had been 15 sales since New Year at its flagship Ness-side development, The Maples, taking the total to 28 while the first release of seven homes at its development in Culbokie last week sold out inside seven days.

Online interest also showed a 41 per cent increase on the same period last year.

"We’re handling a massive amount of enquiries and our various teams are buzzing as a result," Mr Fraser said.

"Despite the post-Christmas lockdown, January and February sales surpassed the figure for those months last year.

"People are certainly keen to move and hopefully it’s a positive indicator for the Inverness economy going forward."

Alison Macleod, sales consultant at The Maples – an £80 million investment which will see 800 homes built over the next 12 years – said three, four and five-bedroom homes being snapped up mostly by local people.

"Quite apart from the special location, people are rethinking their lives in lockdown and looking at what they want for the future," she said.

"Some now feel that working from home is the way ahead for them, which means office space in a bigger property.

"Others have taken stock and decided to settle down together."

Barratt Homes, which has launched a new phase at its Ness Castle development in Inverness, said there was growing interest in city dwellers looking to move further from their offices.

Mike Cowie, sales and marketing director for Barratt Homes North, said: "This is a whole new market of prospective homeowners that now has the flexibility to move beyond typical commuter zones, so, with this in mind, we’re confident that the expansions will be really popular," he said.

Tony Lister, of the Inverness office of Re/max estate agents, also reported a massive increase in inquiries but said the number of properties coming to market was down which was pushing up prices – in some cases up to 20 per cent higher than the home value report.

He felt people were re-assessing where they wanted to live.

"When you have been in lockdown for a year and restricted in your movement, you start to notice things in your house which don't really work," he said.

Phiddy Robertson, who leads Galbraith Group’s Inverness sales team, also said a shortage of available property of all types was driving up prices.

"We expect to experience a repeat of last year’s post lockdown bounce but this isn’t sustainable over the medium term," she said.

Alasdair Fraser, of A Fraser & Co Solicitors, in Church Street, Inverness, said the property market was buoyant and some of that was being fed from people down south wanting to come to the Highlands but he said it was "lively" generally.

"Interest from England is by no means the main trend, but it is playing a part in the overall picture," Mr Fraser said.

"We are one small firm, but there’s a very steady stream coming through.

"Young people are still anxious to proceed and buy, and some old people need to down-size."

Mr Fraser added: "Pandemic or no pandemic, people still require to move and people still want to move."

Related story: Post-lockdown surge fuels Highland property price boom


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