CKD Galbraith Ayr office appointed official lettings agent
for The Open Championship (2009) at Turnberry

The R&A has appointed CKD Galbraith as the official lettings agent for The Open Championship (2009) at Turnberry.

Bob Cherry, partner in charge of the CKD Galbraith Ayr office, says the firm will expect to let between 250 and 300 properties over the two week period around the championship and will be looking to start registering properties from early 2008.

Bob explains: "We will offer a wide range of high quality accommodation from converted barns, contemporary apartments and luxury villas to traditional farmhouses, mansions and castles. Standards for the Turnberry event will be high, and properties will generally need to feature a minimum of two bathrooms and enjoy all modern facilities. Ideally they should also be within 15 miles of Turnberry."

An official lettings agency is appointed by The R&A for The Open each year. The agent's role is to provide quality properties close to the course for competitors and their entourages for the two week period of the competition. Accommodation is also required by officials, the media, tourists and spectators.

Robin Bell, Assistant Director - Championships of The R&A, compliments CKD Galbraith on an "impressive range of properties" and the reputation of its Cottages and Castles company. He says the firm is an appropriate choice as official lettings agent having successfully fulfilled the role in 1994.

CKD Galbraith will open a new department in its Ayr office and create a dedicated website for the 2009 Turnberry event. We will also operate an exhibition stand at the Open in 2008, providing information on accommodation to prospective visitors.

High demand for New Year lettings

CKD Galbraith has seen an exceptionally high demand this year for private rented properties over the New Year period. Properties capable of accommodating groups in excess of 12 or 20 have been most sought after, with one Inverness property, River Lodge, receiving around 20 enquiries for the festive period.

There were just two large properties available for rent through the firm's holiday letting company, Cottages and Castles Ltd, over New Year at the time this newsletter was written. Christmas has also been selling fast. Just 12 properties are left ranging from a secluded hand-built log house in Wester Ross to Blairquhan Castle, a magnificent castellated mansion in Ayrshire.

Sue Bourne, Manager of Cottages and Castles, says: "Scotland is a very popular destination this New Year. Larger properties such as castles and mansions tend to be snapped up by groups who want to host their own Hogmanay parties.

"River Lodge has been the most enquired about property by far. Set on the banks of the River Ness the five star house can accommodate 12 people and is very modern and luxurious. All of the bedrooms have en suite bathrooms, flat screen TVs and Internet access. The property has been professionally photographed, which we believe has contributed greatly to its appeal.

"Many of our larger properties could have been sold six times over, our biggest challenge has been meeting demand. At the same time last year we had around seven properties available over the New Year period. People are recognising that Scotland is becoming more popular, and have started booking much earlier. Today we took a booking for 2008!"

The most popular location for New Year has been Perthshire. Weather can be unpredictable over the festive period, and the region enables revellers to experience the Highlands, without having to travel too far north.

Further information about Cottages and Castles is available at www.cottagesandcastles.co.uk

Dumfries and Galloway shows shades of Cornwall

What a difference 10 years makes. A decade ago no UK county had an average house price above £100,000.

Back in 1996, the counties of Cornwall and Dumfries and Galloway shared many similarities. Both had average property prices of just over £50,000, were situated on the south west coast of their respective countries, and derived their principal income from primary industries including agriculture, forestry and fishing.

Ten years on house prices have soared in Cornwall. The average property has almost quadrupled in value between 1996 and 2006, from £53,081 to £208,683. In contrast, house prices in Dumfries and Galloway have just more than doubled during the past 10 years, with the average house price now at £120,871.

No other county in the UK has shown such a dramatic increase in property prices as Cornwall during the past 10 years. However, Dumfries and Galloway may now be starting to catch up. Last month CKD Galbraith, sold Gledpark Farm, a traditional stone farmhouse in Borgue, for £440,000 - more than four times it's purchase price of £105,000 in 2000.

Simon Brown, of CKD Galbraith, says: "Gledpark Farm is a great success story, increasing in value more than double the local average in six years.

"One of the reasons house prices escalated in Cornwall was due to an influx of 80,000 second-home buyers. Situated on the coast, with a low population density per square mile, the area has proved popular with those looking for investment properties and future retirement homes.

"Investors may have already recognised the potential of buying property in Dumfries and Galloway. In the last year property prices in the county have risen by 14%, and the market remains strong with an increase of 6.6% in the last quarter.

"This is higher than the average for Scotland which was 11.1% for the past year and 5% in the last quarter. However, the good news is that even with these increases, the area still provides opportunities for all budgets."

To read previous newsletters from CKD Galbraith please click here.

CKD Galbraith is one of Scotland’s leading independent property consultancies, offering a full range of services across the residential, commercial and rural property sectors.

We are a national firm offering unrivalled local knowledge through our offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth, Cupar, Inverness, Aberfeldy and Ayr and an associate firm in London.

Specialising in quality property and serving the needs of private clients, our consultants have long-established reputations for providing outstanding personal service in many areas including; estate agency, commercial property, rural estate sales and management, building surveying, architectural and building services, holiday cottages and homes, and sporting holidays.

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For more information please visit www.ckdgalbraith.co.uk