We have enhanced our central Scotland residential sales and lettings division as our new department in Stirling has now officially opened.
The residential department is part of our new Central Scotland hub' based at the Stirling Agricultural Centre, demonstrating a significant expansion of our rural residential property and agricultural services. We have been expanding our share of the Stirlingshire property market with our experienced team of professionals having been active in both the sales and lettings sectors in the area for some time.
We are confident that despite increased caution at all levels of the property market, Stirlingshire's prime rural property sector, the area in which we are specialising, will continue to prosper and achieve good sales for the remainder of 2011.
Latest figures release by the Registers of Scotland outlined that the volume of residential sales in Stirling had increased by 65.1% for the period April to June 2011 compared to the previous quarter, with the value of residential sales also up by 56.2% during the same period.
Dominic Wedderburn will head up the residential sales sector, having been with CKD Galbraith for over two and a half years. Dominic has over 15 years experience in the property market and has extensive knowledge and experience of the rural property market throughout Scotland. Living locally in Drymen, Dominic is also well placed to offer a personal perspective on the market.
Dominic said: "The Stirlingshire market for residential rural property and small scale farmhouses offering between five to 10 acres of land is proving strong. Stirling is a much sought after location offering the attraction of rural country living to those who may be working locally as well as appealing to Glasgow city commuters particularly now that the 40mph speed restrictions on the A80/M80 were lifted in the summer, considerably cutting the driving time between Glasgow and Stirling.
"Prices in the residential sales market have remained relatively stable over the last year and we have received strong interest on a number of properties resulting in favourable over asking price sales. However, setting realistic prices is imperative in the current economic climate particularly as there is now a much greater supply of property on the market and therefore increased competition."
In charge of the Stirling residential lettings division will be Gregor Smyth who has been with the firm for over six years specialising in the top-end lettings market.
Gregor said: "At present we enjoy a good presence in the Stirlingshire lettings sector predominantly in the Blanefield, Balfron and Drymen areas and are looking to expand into the rural country cottage markets across the Carse of Stirling and the townhouse market of Bridge of Allan. Country living has been much more widely recognised by many city commuters assuming the property is located within close proximity to good transport links.
"There is still the trend of people renting property holding off before they buy, particularly young professionals. However we are seeing the emergence of a new sector in the Stirlingshire lettings market with an increasing number of middle aged owners taking the decision to sell their family home and rent particularly in the middle to top end of the property market whilst they monitor market conditions or alternatively decide to have less responsibilities, more disposable income, and take the positive decision to rent for the remainder of their life."
Prices have remained stable in the Stirlingshire rental market across all sectors with the lower end one to two bedroom flats commanding 450 - 650 pcm, the middle sector comprising two to three bedroom cottages achieving 700 - 950pmc and the top end properties attracting 1,000 pcm and above.