Local buyers drive Aberdeenshire property market as sales increase by nearly half

Property sales in Aberdeenshire saw a significant increase during the final quarter of 2017, with demand from local buyers underpinning the vast majority of activity, according to estate agents Galbraith.

Property sales in the region rose by 47 per cent in the last three months of last year compared with the same quarter in 2016.

The firm also reported that 96 per cent of property sales recorded at its Aberdeen office in the final three months of 2017 were made to buyers from Aberdeenshire.

Viewings of property also rose, from 56 to 69, a year-on-year increase of 23 per cent.

The average price of properties sold by Galbraith in Aberdeenshire during the period was £477,799, Galbraith said.

Hannah Christiansen, head of Galbraith’s estate agency team in Aberdeen, said: “The final quarter of 2017 was very positive. Year-on-year property sales have been recovering steadily following the downturn of the Aberdeen property market in 2015. The properties which are very much in demand are suburban and country properties in good condition, especially if they have land or paddocks. These are often selling quite quickly – another sign of returning confidence.

“Deeside and Donside are perennial favourites and we find that properties in these areas usually attract a significant amount of interest. Royal Deeside has been well known to visitors since Queen Victoria and Prince Albert purchased a holiday home here 1852 and it remains in demand as a place to visit and a place to live. Donside is a destination for those who appreciate spectacular unspoilt scenery, wonderful walking routes and historic connections and again is in demand as a lifestyle choice.

“We expect 2018 transactions to continue in much the same vein. Property viewings have been very busy in recent weeks and we recently accepted an offer on a lovely house within two weeks of it going on the market. The critical aspect of achieving a sale is to ensure the property is priced correctly.”