Median price at May 2004: not available
General increase since September 2003: 25%
Projected increase to September 2005: 10%
Market view: The benefits of accessibility by car are glaringly obvious when you compare the relative property fortunes of Skye and Uist. Four hours’ drive from Glasgow and accessible by bridge and ferry, Skye has embraced tourism, reinventing itself as a world-class centre of both culinary excellence and outdoor pursuits.
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Uist, meanwhile, being more difficult to get to, remains a comparatively undiscovered island and a locally focused property market. As a result, prices on Skye are almost double those reached on Uist.
Popular with second homers and relocators seeking a change of life, Skye’s most popular market is the cottage sector (up 25% on 2003), although large family homes on the island are regularly converted to holiday B&Bs. The forecast in both locations seems promising, with a confident 10% projection in every sector.
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Second-hand 1-bed apartment (Skye)
September 2003: £56,000
September 2004: £70,000
September 2005: £75,000
Second-hand 1-bed apartment (Uist)
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September 2003: £28,000
September 2004: £35,000
September 2005: £38,000
New 2-bed apartment (Skye)
September 2003: £72,000
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September 2004: £90,000
September 2005: £97,000
Second-hand 2-bed apartment (Skye)
September 2003: £72,000
September 2004: £90,000
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September 2005: £97,000
Second-hand 2-bed apartment (Uist)
September 2003: £40,000
September 2004: £50,000
September 2005: £54,000
3-bed ex-council (Skye)
September 2003: £80,000
September 2004: £100,000
September 2005: £107,000
3-bed ex-council (Uist)
September 2003: £44,000
September 2004: £55,000
September 2005: £60,000
Second-hand 3-bed semi (Skye)
September 2003: £80,000
September 2004: £100,000
September 2005: £107,000
Second-hand 3-bed semi (Uist)
September 2003: £44,000
September 2004: £55,000
September 2005: £60,000
Second-hand 4-bed detached (Skye)
September 2003: £124,000
September 2004: £155,000
September 2005: £165,000
Second-hand 4-bed detached (Uist)
September 2003: £72,000
September 2004: £90,000
September 2005: £96,000
2-bed cottage (Skye)
September 2003: £100,000
September 2004: £125,000
September 2005: £133,000
2-bed cottage (Uist)
September 2003: £48,000
September 2004: £60,000
September 2005: £64,000
3-bed traditional crofthouse (Skye)
September 2003: £104,000
September 2004: £130,000
September 2005: £140,000
3-bed traditional crofthouse (Uist)
September 2003: £72,000
September 2004: £90,000
September 2005: £95,000
4-bed manse (Skye)
September 2003: £176,000
September 2004: £220,000
September 2005: £240,000
4-bed manse (Uist)
September 2003: £112,000
September 2004: £140,000
September 2005: £112,000
(Source: John Murray Skye Property)
STIRLINGSHIRE AND CLACKMANNANSHIRE
Median price at May 2004: Clackmannanshire: 72,800; Stirlingshire: 110,00; Falkirk: 76,000
General increase since September 2003: Clackmannanshire: 51.7%; Stirlingshire: 22.2%; Falkirk: 26.7%
Projected increase to September 2005: 10-15%
Market view: Whatever statistics you choose, Alloa has spent most of this year as Scotland’s top-performing town. HBOS claims a 39% rise for Alloa in 2004, with a five-year gain of 89%. Myhouseprice.com claims 68.9% growth for Alloa this year, and an overall 51.7% rise for Clackmannanshire, which was Scotland’s best-performing county. Although a more mature market, Stirlingshire has also performed well, registering gains of 22.2% this year on Myhouseprice.com.
The bold statistics, however, do bear further analysis. Clackmannanshire’s median price to May 2004 of £72,800 is significantly less than the medians in Stirlingshire (£111,000), east Renfrewshire (£150,000), east Dumbartonshire (£131,550) or east Lothian (£117,500).
The inference to be made here is that Clackmannanshire has had a lot of catching up to do from a historically low base (you could still buy a second-hand one-bed apartment in Alloa for £21,000 last year).
The conundrum for agents is: having played catch-up in such spectacular style this year, can central Scotland’s warm spots continue to achieve these massive numbers in the coming months? Our experts are hedging their bets, predicting what appears to be a rise consistent with most other Scottish counties (10%).
Fuelled by overspill from the increasingly expensive Stirlingshire towns, the cost of a second-hand three-bed semi in Alloa has risen from around £60,000 to £100,000 this year. There are no small new-build developments to speak of and Alloa, like central Scotland generally, has become a magnet for value-seeking commuters and their families.
From most locations in either county you can be at work in Edinburgh by 8.30am and back home for 6pm with a short drive and a train from Stirling’s mainline station. As Bobby McDonald of Allan Grant suggests: “There are nice houses, there’s still a bit of value and some beautiful views of the Ochils. No wonder people want to live here.”
Second-hand 1-bed apartment (Alloa)
September 2003: £21,000
September 2004: £35,000
September 2005: £39,000
Second-hand 2-bed apartment (Alloa)
September 2003: £30,000
September 2004: £50,000
September 2005: £55,000
3-bed ex-council
September 2003: £48,000
September 2004: £80,000
September 2005: £88,000
Second-hand 3-bed semi
September 2003: £60,000
September 2004: £100,000
September 2005: £110,000
Second-hand 3-bed detached (Tullibody)
September 2003: £96,000
September 2004: £160,000
September 2005: £176,000
Second-hand 4-bed detached
September 2003: £111,000
September 2004: £185,000
September 2005: £203,000
2-bed cottage (Alva/Tillicoultry)
September 2003: £50,000
September 2004: £83,000
September 2005: £92,000
Traditional country house in 1 acre (Menstrie)
September 2003: £120,000
September 2004: £200,000
September 2005: £220,000
Modern country house in 1 acre (Alva)
September 2003: £120,000
September 2004: £200,000
September 2005: £220,000
Converted barn/steading (Alloa)
September 2003: £108,000
September 2004: £180,000
September 2005: £198,000
New 2-bed apartment (Falkirk)
September 2003: £70,000
September 2004: £75,000
September 2005: £85,000
3-bed ex-council (Falkirk)
September 2003: £55,000
September 2004: £75,000
September 2005: £85,000
Second-hand 3-bed semi (Falkirk)
September 2003: £85,000
September 2004: £100,000
September 2005: £120,000
3-bed ex-council (Bridge of Allan)
September 2003: £82,000
September 2004: £110,000
September 2005: £122,000
2-bed cottage (Gartmore)
September 2003: £90,000
September 2004: £120,000
September 2005: £132,000
Trad country house in 1 acre
(near Stirling)
September 2003: £300,000
September 2004: £400,000
September 2005: £440,000
Modern country house in 1 acre (near Stirling)
September 2003: £300,000
September 2004: £400,000
September 2005: £440,000
Converted detached barn/steading (near Stirling)
September 2003: £262,000
September 2004: £350,000
September 2005: £385,000
Second-hand 2-bed apartment (Dollar)
September 2003: £112,000
September 2004: £140,000
September 2005: £168,000
Second-hand 3-bed semi (Dollar)
September 2003: £136,000
September 2004: £170,000
September 2005: £204,000
Traditional country house in 10 acres
September 2003: £900,000
September 2004: £950,000
September 2005: £975,000
5-bed manse
September 2003: £575,000
September 2004: £600,000
September 2005: £625,000
Contemporary country house
September 2003: £650,000
September 2004: £675,000
September 2005: £700,000
(Source: FPDSavills, Allan Grant, Ian Gray, Allen and Harris)
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