Aberdeen and Edinburgh have been ranked in third and fifth place in an evaluation that rates cities in terms of jobs, health, income and skills, work-life balance, house affordability, travel-to-work times, income equality and pollution.

Meanwhile, Glasgow continues to creep up the rankings, from 26th place in 2012 to 24th now. When compared to the 10 largest cities outside of London, Glasgow is also outperforming major English hubs including Manchester, Sheffield, Newcastle, Birmingham and Liverpool.

The report, by PwC and think-tank Demos, found that the majority of cities have improved their score as the effects of economic recovery, in particular rising employment and a return to growth in real earnings, are felt across the UK.

However, the impact of lower oil prices has seen Aberdeen fall from a high of 2nd place in 2013 and 2014 to 5th place.

Paul Brewer, PwC’s government and public sector lead in Scotland said: “While Aberdeen’s oil wealth has consistently influenced high scores in areas such as jobs, income and skills, the lower for longer oil price backdrop is beginning to chip away at that. It’s vital that Aberdeen future-proofs itself, extending its success beyond the life of North Sea oil exploration.”

Dundee, Inverness, Perth and Stirling performed above average for transport infrastructure and provision, not only in comparison to other devolved cities but the wider UK list.

Skills scored highly in Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Inverness while the two major central belt cities also ranked above average for work life balance. Inverness and Perth also scored highly alongside Aberdeen and Edinburgh for jobs.

Mr Brewer added: “Overall, Scottish cities have successfully delivered skills, communications, and employment opportunities with work/life balance. Investors want high-level skills readily accessible, competitive operating costs and strong infrastructure. These are key drivers of investment that can in turn drive up sustainable employment.”

Source: heraldscotland

Image: www.flickr.com/alanjamieson

Official figures show that sales grew by 6 per cent between July and September, the largest amount of growth since 2008.

The total value of homes being sold also hit a seven-year high, with £4.74 billion worth of property changing hands.

However, house prices have fallen slightly by half a percent compared to last year, partly because of the greater number of homes passing through the market.

Figures released by Registers of Scotland (RoS) have revealed the hotspots where property markets have been booming during the past 12 months.

Top of the list was West Lothian, where the biggest percentage rise in volume of sales of 23.1 per cent was recorded. The town, which was ignominiously nominated for the bad architecture award The Plook on the Plinth in 2013, saw sales rise from 905 compared to 735 the previous year.

Overall, the largest property market was found in Edinburgh where there were 3,520 sales, an increase of 9.6 per cent in a year.

The capital was also the most lucrative area, with total sales earning more than £805 million between July and September, an increase of 6.2 per cent on 2014.

In Glasgow the volume of sales rose by nearly 10 per cent, while house prices grew by 1 per cent to stand at an average of £140,426.

Across Scotland, the average property price was said to be around £169,400 with the biggest rises coming among semi-detached properties.

But slight decreases were also noted among detached homes, terraces and flats, dragging down the typical house price recorded by RoS.

The troubles and job losses affecting the oil industry were reflected in a fall in house prices in Aberdeen, where the average value was said to have fallen by 2.2 per cent.

The surrounding area of Aberdeenshire showed the largest decrease in total market value, with a decrease of 16.6 per cent to just over £323 million, while the average house price dropped 3.5 per cent.

Estate agents said that the latest RoS figures showed growing confidence in the property market, with househunters now looking beyond traditional hotspots in the big cities.

Sean MacMillan, an Associate Aberdein Considine, said that the surge in interest in West Lothian was a clear example of buyers willing to go beyond the beaten track.

He said: “It’s no real surprise that West Lothian continues its steady increase in both volume of property sales and in sale prices when considered in the wider context of the central belt housing market.

“Over a quarter of workers living in West Lothian work in Edinburgh. The average price of a detached home in Edinburgh has risen to almost £400,000 and the average flat in Edinburgh now costs almost £200,000, so it is no wonder that more people in the capital are considering the benefits which come with living in West Lothian where they can get a great deal more ‘bang for their buck”.

Rettie & Co’s Director of Research, Dr. John Boyle, added: “These latest statistics show that the housing market in Scotland is turning the corner. “The sharp rise in activity is more than a blip as the fundamentals are now in place to ensure a full recovery, with improving economic activity levels, consumer sentiment, bank lending and new build activity helping to raise the market. Stable price levels are helping the market to recover.”

Source: heraldscotland

The number of homes being sold in the West Lothian towns of Bathgate, Broxburn, Livingston, Linlithgow and the surrounding areas shot up by 23.1% in the last quarter, 17% faster than the rest of Scotland.

The new figures – complied from Registers of Scotland (RoS) data – also show that the value of sales in the region rose by more than 30% to £148million over the same period.

Broxburn was nominated for the Carbuncle Award, an ironic prize recognising some of the ugliest places and architecture in Scotland, just three years ago.

Across the country, a total of 28,019 properties were submitted for registration between July and September, the highest volume of sales for any quarter since Q1 of 2008-09.

The City of Edinburgh was the largest overall market, with sales of over £805million for the quarter, an increase of 6.2% on the previous year.

West Lothian property expert Sean MacMillan, an associate at national solicitor estate agent Aberdein Considine, said the town and the region are becoming increasingly popular with househunters.

“It’s no real surprise that West Lothian continues its steady increase in both volume of property sales and in sale prices when considered in the wider context of the central belt housing market,” he said.

“Recent increases in house prices in Glasgow and more importantly Edinburgh has had a significant effect on the West Lothian market.

“Over a quarter of workers living in West Lothian work in Edinburgh.”

He added: “Transport links from West Lothian to Edinburgh and indeed to Glasgow, Stirling and further afield have been improved significantly in the past five years and according to West Lothian Council statistics West Lothian residents are now within an hour’s drive of 60% of Scotland’s population and of 54% of all Scottish businesses.

“Substantial new-build developments are underway around the county, most notably in Winchburgh, Bathgate, Whitburn and East Calder, which will serve to further fuel the volume of sales heading into 2016 and beyond.”

Find your property in West Lothian, or tell us why you think it’s the best place to live in Scotland.

Source: heraldscotland

The city has rocketed 97 places from 2013 when the survey was last done to hit the number one spot this year.

The index from uSwitch.com assessed 138 UK cities and regions for 26 different lifestyle factors including working hours, life expectancy, hours of sunshine, food and energy bills, disposable income and more.

USwitch.com said: “Not only does Edinburgh have the lowest reported crime rate in the entire UK, it boasts cheap energy bills, an average salary of £29,558, a disposable income average of £20,083 and super-fast broadband speeds of 23Mbs.”

Solihull, which was the judged best place to live two years ago, dropped to second place.

Bradford and Hull were officially the worst places, let down, uSwitch.com said, by low disposable income, low employment, high rent and crowded schools.

The researchers said it was also a “victory for Scotland” as 13 of the 20 regions that saw the biggest gains in the Quality of Life rankings since they were last done two years ago are located north of the border. It means that more than half of Scottish regions have improved their Quality of Life ranking since 2013.

The top seven biggest climbers are all in Scotland. They include South Lanarkshire which moves up 55 places to be the fifth best place to live and North Lanarkshire which jumped 98 places to number eight. Inverclyde, East Renfrewshire and Renfrewshire enjoyed the biggest ranking gain, moving from 112th to 10th thanks in part to some of the lowest household costs in the UK.

But on the down side, the survey found Glaswegians have the shortest life expectancy while women in Buckinghamshire live the longest.

Life was less rosy south of the border with 16 out of the 20 biggest falling regions being English, with both Bradford and Hull, both in the Yorkshire and Humber region, rooted at the foot of the index.

The lowest ranking Scots region was the Western Isles which fell from 120th to 135th.

Ann Robinson, director of consumer policy at uSwitch.com, said: “Edinburgh has long been a city that’s inspired; a vibrant city with striking architecture and a world famous festival, all surrounded by stunning scenery. Now it’s official – Edinburgh is the best place to live in the UK. With low crime rates, high wages and affordable living costs, it’s not just the history and cultural attractions that are drawing people to Scotland’s capital.”

Andrew Burns, City of Edinburgh council leader, said: “This result is further great news for the city. The quality of life in Scotland’s capital is high because the city offers the best of everything.

“Edinburgh is the home of Hogmanay, spectacular architecture, great museums and the biggest arts festival in the world. We have a vibrant retail offering and thriving jobs market, award-winning green spaces and beaches and well regarded schools and universities – the list goes on. Little wonder, then, that Edinburgh tops the list of the best places to live.”

If you’re looking to move to the ‘best place to live in the UK’ search s1homes.com for your next home.

Artcle source: heraldscotland

Image source: www.flickr.com/dun_deagh

Property sales jumped six per cent in a month, with buyers capitalising on lower rates introduced by the Scottish Government’s Land and Buildings Transaction Tax.

Almost 10,000 houses moved through the market in July, the highest number of home purchases during a single month since 2008, the latest Your Move/Acadata house index said.

New scheme to focus on affordable homes.

The value of property in Edinburgh jumped by eight per cent during the last 12 months, meaning the property market in Auld Reekie is catching up with what has traditionally been the UK’s most active hotspot, where house prices grew by nearly 10 per cent.

The figures were revealed in the latest Hometrack UK Cities Index, which keeps tabs on house prices in 20 urban centres around the UK.

Estate agents say that a slowdown at the top end of the property market as a result of the introduction of the Scottish Government’s Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) is coming to an end, with fresh activity in the property market boosting the price of property.

The average house price in Scotland was £169,227 in June, up 2.6 per cent on the previous month and 1.2 per cent on the previous year, according to the Your Move/Acadata house price index.

Deals completed reached a total of £201 million over the period, driven by Legal & General’s £127m purchase of Aker Solutions 335,000 square foot headquarters at Aberdeen International Business Park.

Three transactions in the Granite City were worth £178m, according to the figures.

The value of deals completed in Edinburgh reached £231m, as sales across Scotland increased by 56.6 per cent on the first quarter to £963m.

David Melhuish, director of the Scottish Property Federation, said: “Whilst the general economic commentary surrounding Aberdeen has focused on the impact of falling oil prices, it is striking to see that its commercial property market is going against the grain and retaining significant investment.

“Aside from the dip in value that we saw in the last quarter, which could well be attributed to pre-election uncertainty, figures over the past year show that Scotland’s commercial property market as a whole is growing in strength and value.”

Considering a move to Aberdeen? Check out the latest properties in the area on s1homes.com

Source: The Herald

Image credit: www.flikr.com/alanjamieson

The homeowners were quick to say that their semi-detached house is not actually for sale but let’s be honest, if there was £14m up for grabs, who wouldn’t seriously consider it?

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To get your free property valuation, just pop in a few details and an agent will be in touch to arrange a time to suit you.

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