Four things you need to know if you're buying a home in Stirling

Are you planning to buy a home in Stirling this summer? We're here to help!

Here's four things you need to know about buying in what is one of the hottest markets in the UK right now...

1) Move quick because prices are rising

Average property prices in Stirling are now the 9th highest in the country according to Scotland's Property Monitor, research carried out by Aberdein Considine and The Times newspaper.

The average price of a home in the city rose to £186,732, during the first quarter of 2018, over £30,000 more expensive than a property in neighbouring Glasgow.

2) Rents are also rising... but borrowing is still cheap

The average rent paid for a property in Stirling in £618 per month, which is now 10% higher than it was five years ago.

Rents in the city have been creeping up for a number of years, making letting property an increasingly expensive option.

However, mortgage rates remain at historically low levels - and purchasers are getting access to fixed rates of around 2%, allowing them to keep their monthly payment the same for up to five years. 

3) Finding a property is hard

The number of sales completing in Scotland fell by 4.9 % during the first quarter of the year, due partly to a lack of properties coming on the market.

Our branch staff on the ground across Stirling and the surrounding area say demand shows no sign of peaking yet, meaning you are unlikely to be the only person bidding for the home you have your eye on.

However, there are ways to get the edge. Enlisting the help of an estate agent, like Aberdein Considine, will allow you to access exclusive marketing databases and get first sight of properties about to come on the market.

4) You don't need to go to a bank to arrange your mortgage

There has been a lot in the news about banks closing branches - but you don't need to worry as there are better ways to get a mortgage.

As an independent adviser, Aberdein Considine can access more than 3,000 mortgage products from all the high street lenders – and in the vast majority of cases do not charge broker fees to arrange the loan. 

And you can see our advisers at a our Port Street office!

Each of these offices are also staffed by property solicitors, meaning you can arrange your purchase end-to-end under the same roof.