CONSTRUCTION firms have warned of a looming housing crisis in Scotland as fresh figures show the number of new homes built during the first months of this year has fallen to a record low. Statistics from the Scottish Government revealed work began on fewer than 3780 houses between January and March, the smallest number for […]

THE Bank of England is “acutely aware” of the risk of unsustainable growth in UK house prices and credit, and will monitor it closely, Governor Mark Carney has declared. In his first policy speech since taking over at the head of the Bank on July 1, Mr Carney said: “A recovering banking sector, coupled with […]

HOMEOWNERS whose properties have been lying empty for more than two years will be charged double council tax in a new move by a local authority. Argyll and Bute Council will bring the rise into force next April in a bid to bring unoccupied properties back into the housing market. The double charge will also […]

A NEW £14 million affordable ­housing development will be officially opened by the Deputy First Minister later today. Nicola Sturgeon will cut the ribbon at a ceremony at Partick Housing Association’s Centurion Way project in the west end of Glasgow. It provides 87 homes with different tenure options. Forty-three are for social rent, 22 are […]

A rise in Scottish house sales points to an improvement in consumer confidence but mortgage lending is the main barrier to a full recovery in the housing market, according to a report. A study found residential property sales were 7.7% higher in the second quarter of this year compared with the same period in 2012: […]

GREAT news for the property market may be a mixed blessing for the rest of us. The Royal Institute Of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) is hailing the results of its most recent survey of house prices as a boost for the sector, and the economy. Members told RICS that they were seeing a growth in the […]

PROPERTY experts have predicted the Scottish market is on the long-awaited road to recovery with buoyant forecasts of rising house prices and increased activity among sellers. A new report by chartered surveyors found increased demand and climbing values last month andpredictions the positive conditions are to continue over the next year. The claims are made […]

Detached property owners continue to advertise at unrealistic selling prices, according to latest s1homes Scottish House Price Report Detached houses present biggest Reality Gap at 18% Overall Reality Gap narrows slightly from 10% in previous quarter to 9% Average asking prices rise but not as much as actual selling prices Flats and terraced houses continue […]

FIRST-TIME buyers expect to spend around 14 years in their “starter” home before they can move up the property ladder. People currently living in their first home typically bought it at the age of 28 – but they expect to be 42 when they buy their next property, the Post Office found. By contrast, first-time […]

THE trading watchdog is urging almost 120 firms operating in the “quick house sale” sector to make sure their business practices are up to scratch after an investigation found some hard-pressed customers handing over their home for less than half market value. The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) said it has also opened formal investigations […]