Regional round-up

The Scottish market differs significantly from area to area and town to town. The towns where the average selling price is less than the national average has continued seeing new properties coming to the market with buyers ready and waiting and some agents reporting closing dates.

Sellers and buyers hate uncertainty and sadly until there is a bit of clarity with politics, the market will remain slow. November should be a strong month but the expected and much needed new listings in October to carry us through to the new year never materialised. I have heard the same from many agents and many branches.

With many agents fighting to secure any properties coming to the market, there has been pressure on fees. Some agents have reported that competing agents have been contacting sellers directly in an attempt to sway them.

I did read an article recently that owners were moving away from the Airbnb market however, I have been surprised at how many calls I have received from buyers looking to invest in holiday lets.

The good news in the Scottish market is there has been no loss of value in the properties and when sellers do make the decision to come to the market there are buyers. Most agents I have spoken to have reported that they have a large number of sellers waiting to come to the market, one, in fact, stating they had carried out 100 market appraisals with most pending, however, there was nothing in the market for sellers to buy.

I am confident that we will see a strong market in 2020, we just need winter and the current uncertainty to end.