Online House Hunter: Regional variations

REGIONAL variations on any housing statistics seem to fluctuate so wildly that it’s a wonder why anyone would want to extract a national average.

But that’s often what the press demand and it can make for an enticing – if misguided – headline.

“Average price of a new home hits 31-month high” is the latest headline which can be good news or bad news depending on whether you’re buying, selling or building.

It comes from the New Homes Index compiled by SmartNewHomes which represents 85% of all new homes for sale in England, Wales and Scotland. The full report is available online .

According to the report, the average price of a new home is now £228,041 – that’s the highest figure since October 2008. It’s 3.8% up on last month and a 3.4% annual increase. The traditional ’spring bounce’ in buying activity, recent good weather and the continued low base rate are all credited with the strong demand for new homes.

However, the report is quick to point out that there are large regional variations in this headline figure.

Scotland was one per cent up on the month but 10.8% down on the year.

The North saw a 1.1% drop on the previous month although up 0.2% up on the year.

The struggling Welsh property market saw a monthly drop (-4.5%) and an annual one (-2.6%).

Even Greater London showed a 23.8% drop on last year’s figure although a 0.9% increase on the month.

The report shows East and West Midlands with the strongest price growth in May but suggests the regional picture will remain ‘volatile’ for a while to come.

Steve Lees, Director of SmartNewHomes said: “The significant rise in the average price of a new home is indicative of growing consumer demand during the peak buying season.

Property News - New homes for sale in Scotland | Scottish new ...

As the summer sunshine finally makes an appearance (albeit a rather short one), many of the country's teenagers will be excited about heading off to university for the first time or leaving halls of residence to find their own pad. An increasing number of parents are looking to find a property to buy for their child to live in during university life and as an investment for the future.

Purchasing a home for a student in the family has a number of advantages, not least the fact that the property can be sold at a profit when it's time to move on, therefore saving money that could be potentially wasted on rent. In fact, by finding a flatmate to pay you rent, it could even be a money-spinner. There are a number of new-build starter homes in university cities around Scotland and, as the properties are brand new, mum and dad won't be inundated with phone calls about repair bills!

The ‘Pirie' and the ‘Spence' are both two-bedroom apartment styles at Vision in Aberdeen. The development by Stewart Milne Homes is situated near the Mugiemoss area of the city and both apartment types boast a breakfasting kitchen, built-in kitchen appliances, fitted wardrobes in both bedrooms, a door entry system and ample storage. Prices at Vision start from £162,995.

Situated in the west of Edinburgh, CALA Homes ' Grovewood Hill development includes a range of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments priced from £165,000. An open-plan design suits modern student living and a separate utility room keeps noisy appliances out of the way, while the bedrooms come with fitted wardrobes. The apartments are kitted out to a high specification with Siemens kitchen appliances and Porcelanosa tiling in the bathrooms.

For those studying at any of Glasgow's three universities, Mactaggart & Mickel 's Gainsborough Court development is well placed in the city's West End. The Kelvindale development comprises 62 properties including two- and three-bedroom apartments, two-, three- and four-bedroom duplex apartments and four-bedroom townhouses. En-suite facilities, fitted wardrobes, plenty of storage space and spacious living rooms are some of the features that make this development stand out. Prices at Gainsborough Court start from £234,495.

Taylor Wimpey 's Stirling Bridge development of one- and two-bedroom apartments and two- and three-bedroom semi-detached homes has been designed with first time buyers in mind. Prices here start at £85,000 for a one-bedroom apartment with an open-plan living/dining area, which has doors leading out to the communal garden.

The Development of the West of Scotland 1750-1960

Scotland in the twentieth century

The Church of Scotland home and foreign mission record

Frommer's Scotland

The economist