MORAY IS BUCKING the national trend where post-Brexit fears are forcing down house prices and slowing house sales – with one local councillor insisting people are realising “it is a great place to live”.
As home values around the country are reported to be falling on the back of the decision to quit the European Union and increasing pressures on the Oil Industry, property experts say that it is business as usual in Moray where prices are increasing by 6%.
Even better news for home owners on coastal communities is that house prices have already increased on average by 18% as interest grows from people seeking out a more idyllic lifestyle.
Chairman of the Moray Economic Partnership, Councillor John Cowe, says it is “too early” to say if the figures reflect recent news that RAF Lossiemouth would welcome around 400 additional personnel as well as the arrival of a new £100million investment by US giants Boeing at the Moray base.
Pointing to the plans to build 4000 new homes in Elgin, Councillor Cowe said: “All these people will be needing jobs in order to pay for the mortgages – so Moray is doing well at the moment, the bottom line is that it is a great place to live.”
Local estate agents are reporting major growth in the number of viewing requests for new homes, with CKD Galbraith saying they have seen an 80% rise over the last year – with sales up a third when compared to 2015.
Head of retail sales for the Elgin company, Rod Christie, said: “Moray remains an extremely popular area of Scotland offering prospective buyers the chance to attain their dream rural home at a fraction of the price in the rest of the UK.”