The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: darkbrowneggs on October 04, 2013, 09:55:26 am
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Someone posted a while ago that property was better value in Scotland than in France and as I am looking for somewhere I wondered whats the best place to start a search for property in Scotland.
I don't mind if it is not habitable as long as there is power and water on site
And I would really like it to be somewhere I will have a chance of seeing the Northern Lights. Its one of the things I had on my lifetime list of "to dos" and as I will never now be able to sail into New York on the QE2 and fly back on Concorde.......
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Try Perthshire bednoc and strathspey in the highlands fantastic place everey think you could think of .Wev had a camper here for 6 weeks making up there minds very happey they are from the midlands and no crime here ,the docter sees you in Tesco Autumn watch was in aviemore .
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Thanks - so far I tried looking in Northumberland thinking it might be a reasonably priced place to buy
I know nothing about the area, but when did a search I see a 1 bedroom semi-detached bungalow in Berwick on Tweed, so small there is not room for a bath is £78,000 - its been on the market since spring but was last sold in sept 2011 for £66000 - and they say the property market is falling??????
Unless I can find something with a sensible price I will certainly look on the continent somewhere
I will now try VF suggestions :thumbsup:
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Not Aberdeen City or close by - prices have never dropped there. I have a nice plot in a small hamlet 25 miles north of there that's been for sale for a year. Further north you go the cheaper, and the slower the sales, but the weather isn't so good. I just heard from friends who moved to Orkney a couple of years ago and they love it, but it is very windy on the islands, and they've had buildings blown down.
Central Scotland prices are still reasonable - best thing is to browse the solicitors property centres to gauge what's available.
ESPC (Edinburgh etc http://www.espc.com/ (http://www.espc.com/)); ASPC(Aberdeen area https://www.aspc.co.uk/ (https://www.aspc.co.uk/)); GSPC(Glasgow area http://www.gspc.co.uk/ (http://www.gspc.co.uk/))
Then there are all the Estate Agents who don't list on there - Remax http://www.remax-scotland.com/ (http://www.remax-scotland.com/)
and other internet sites - Rightmove, nexthomeonline, Primelocation, S1 homes etc etc.
Good luck!
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we live up in Fraserburgh and the lights have been seen here, not bad area either some nice bits of the country side too
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Its a buyers market for sure...houses appear to be shifting in central Scotland but at lower prices, that's brilliant for any buyer so you have a lot of power.......I talk to various estate agents and solicitors, they have been moving steadily but no price increase as yet...you may have a couple of years before they even start to steady but again, that's good.
Some one on here suggested also looking at rental properties, the owner sometimes is happy to sell or is now letting because they cannot sell, I house I loved is now on the rental market but it needed too much money spending on it...Also lots of private house sales around, Gumtree is one Tepilo (Sarah Beeny )is another, houses for sale buy owner and sometimes you see phone numbers on houses, so its worth looking at an area that appeals to you and asking around or putting an add on something like Gumtree or here, I loved the house that Victorian Farmer was selling but its gone now!! It I had a few pennies to spare I would buy on one of the Islands or Perthshire....as my husband needs to work we need to stay put but for you Darkbrowneggs....the world (Scotland) is your oyster........ :thumbsup: :thumbsup: SOO exciting :excited:
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:excited: You got me looking again now...I love house hunting.. Look at this cute place, needs a bit of TLC but I love it from what I can see
http://www.gumtree.com/p/flats-houses/highland-cottage-scotland/1031032551#photo-content (http://www.gumtree.com/p/flats-houses/highland-cottage-scotland/1031032551#photo-content)
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In this area the Solicitors property centre http://www.sspc.co.uk/ (http://www.sspc.co.uk/) advertise for solicitors in the various regions and is probably the best place to do your homework.
A friend of ours (2 miles down the rd) has taken some fantastic photos of the aurora - made a panorama photograph by joining them all together. I think the further north you go the better the northern lights will be but ultimately it depends on the weather conditions at the time. We have lovely clean air up here and crystal clear skies on cloudless nights, it's better than the planetarium and like day when the moon comes out.
Where we live we can get a doctors appointment the same morning we phone (not emergency either), be seen for physio in 2/3 wks and get a hospital appointment in record time.
Not sure what the future holds if Scotland goes for independence but I live in hope that the silent majority have the same hopes as I do.
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https://www.aspc.co.uk/search/property/282367/Sawmill-Cottage---Strathdon/Strathdon/ (https://www.aspc.co.uk/search/property/282367/Sawmill-Cottage---Strathdon/Strathdon/)
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Where we live we can get a doctors appointment the same morning we phone (not emergency either), be seen for physio in 2/3 wks and get a hospital appointment in record time.
Not sure what the future holds if Scotland goes for independence but I live in hope that the silent majority have the same hopes as I do.
Since the NHS in Scotland is run by the Scottish Parliament and isn't being privatised, we'd better hope for independence then.
Whether or not Scotland votes for independence next year, it will always be a great place to live (just better once we control our own affairs :) ). Since inward investment is good, I wouldn't worry about the effect on house prices. Oh, and you WON"T need a passport to get through Berwick :)
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Where we live we can get a doctors appointment the same morning we phone (not emergency either), be seen for physio in 2/3 wks and get a hospital appointment in record time.
Not sure what the future holds if Scotland goes for independence but I live in hope that the silent majority have the same hopes as I do.
Since the NHS in Scotland is run by the Scottish Parliament and isn't being privatised, we'd better hope for independence then.
Whether or not Scotland votes for independence next year, it will always be a great place to live (just better once we control our own affairs :) ). Since inward investment is good, I wouldn't worry about the effect on house prices. Oh, and you WON"T need a passport to get through Berwick :)
I'm sure we'll all make up our minds on how to vote by the time the referendum comes....can we keep the thread to the looking for a fab house for DBE guys!
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I'm sure we'll all make up our minds on how to vote by the time the referendum comes....can we keep the thread to the looking for a fab house for DBE guys!
:thumbsup:
I certainly vouch for the health system up here, any better and they would hoover up and do my ironing!!!
Me and my husband both have had phone calls on a Sunday from the specialist themselves for appointments being brought forward and I got a phone call on Monday for an appointment I did not even know I was going to get...
Hope Rosemary is right re house prices either way, :thinking: BUT unless I get dragged out of Scotland, we are staying!
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I guess you all knew that I would post something here as we opted for France.
Property in some departments especially 23 are MUCH cheaper in Scotland and there are so many "smallholdings" built about 100 years ago that are well designed with the essential outbuildings.
One more point - have a read at the seasonal postings of people who brave the wet,wind and cold and the very short growing seasons.
Oh - and you should need health care than unfortunately I have first hand experience of the system in France that provides after care and treatment that you did not know existed in the UK. Their end point of a treatment is way beyond what we would have got in the UK.
Sorry folks but I would opt for France everytime.
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Hi MAK - I know you and yours have had a really bad time of things just lately. Does it work the same way in France as in the Uk or do you have to pay for certain things
Also if I did opt to remain a UK citizen but just spend part of my time in France are there things I should be aware of with regards to health care/insurance :thumbsup:
Many thanks all - I am loving this thread ;D
Just found a 3 bed property completely and tastefully renovated and overlooking a nice little harbour
£180
You guessed it the typist must have typed what she heard and missed the "thousands" off the end
PS MAK - any linkies to the "empty" village?
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Did you see the first on the list at www.maupuy23-immobilier.com (http://www.maupuy23-immobilier.com) ???
14.5 k € but very small and needs a lot of work.
Yo can get a UK S1 form and the UK picks up any dental or health care costs then after that expires you need top up insurrance. Therafter Social security pay about 70% and your insurrance pays the rest. We carry cards and everything is billed on these with no cash exchanging hands usually.
I guess that is the difference - France is 30% better because we contribute 30% via our insurrance. No prescription charges here.
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£180? WOWOW, When I was looking for a property up here in Scotland I saw one for £200,000, I showed it to my husband as I was very impressed, he said it was OK...anyway, I sent an E Mail but got no reply, then I phoned and asked...someone had missed a few "0's" it was supposed to be 2 million..... :innocent:
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There are still some real bargains in Scotland if you look hard enough. We are on Skye which can be expensive unless you go for a croft, which is a good option if you are happy with the legalities around crofting.
Other than that Sutherland is still reasonable but remote!
Try HSPC or Remax for property searches.
The continent will come a very poor second to wild Scotland!
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What sort of thing are you looking for, DBE? And what sort of a budget?
There were plenty of good Aurora nights to the east of Northumberland this last year. I'm still wishing, myself... dang it, I'm always seeing shooting stars, why on earth hasn't it occurred to me to wish I could see the Northern Lights?! ::) :idea: :dunce: Next time...
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What do we think of WesterRoss as an area?
So many properties to look at my brain is spinning
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Wild and woolly - well known for its spectacular mountain scenery, especially the Torridon Hills which includes such peaks as Beinn Eighe and Liathach. I'm a born and bred and enthusiastic hardy Scots lass and I wouldn't live there for a pension. :innocent:
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Ummm that doesnt sound good. I thought the climate might be a bit softer as long as the Gulf Stream stays true to course that is. Isnt that were there are some interesting gardens with surpisingly tender plants. Or is my Geography way off course? ::)
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Forres and Nairn are in the gulf Stream - they've got lovely sands and gardens. Won prizes.
Wester ross has it's own website - http://www.visitwester-ross.com/ (http://www.visitwester-ross.com/)
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DBE - try the Moray Coast area down to Aviemore - lots of nice little properties and a whiskey trail to boot !
The weather is milder up here - 20 deg and sunshine today in Elgin, although when the winter is bad, its bad Im told ( not experienced one of these yet though )
Ive been working up here since moving jobs in February and will be properly moving up here in November.
So I guess I'm a little biased !!
Good luck with the search
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I suppose Inverewe and Attadale gardens are classed as Wester ross - forgot about that - but takes forever to get there with the roads so windy and twisty.
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Bear in mind it depends on what you like best and what bothers you. I can't stand lots and lots of rain and midges but don't mind Cold and snow, so went for Aberdeenshire rather than the other side of the Cairngorms!
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Very true, I don't like rain or snow which is why I moved to the central belt, near the Ochils.
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DBE - try the Moray Coast area down to Aviemore - lots of nice little properties and a whiskey trail to boot !
The weather is milder up here - 20 deg and sunshine today in Elgin, although when the winter is bad, its bad Im told ( not experienced one of these yet though )
Ive been working up here since moving jobs in February and will be properly moving up here in November.
So I guess I'm a little biased !!
Good luck with the search
I hope that is meant to read as a dash rather than a minus or you really will put me off Scotland
Is it very wet and midgy on the west coast then. I hate midges. What times of the year are they at their worst and when is it reasonably ok
Off to check out where Aviemore is - this is doing wonders for my Geography
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DBE, yep was definitely just a dash and not a minus !!
So far, the only time Ive seen or been bothered by midges was one very hot day in the summer when I was walking in a woodland near Knockando which is close to Aberlour.
I think that the sea air keeps the midges away - just my opinion though.
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Well you only live once....take the bull buy the horns and go where your heart takes you :wave:
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West coast generally wetter and more midgey, north darker winters for longer and when weather hits it is serious but better prepared for. Central belt a bit more suburby in places but some glorious open spaces if you travel a little further from Ed/Gla corridor. Fife is obviously a great choice - stay centre/north for the best of it, south is ex-industrial or commuter suburban and east is tourist ridden and pricey but Cupar to the Tay is lovely and has great neighbours ;) Perth & Kinross is a good classic bet, covers a range of the above and well connected, avoid the overpriced bits and the too remote bits and anywhere else you'd be happy I reckon.
But the best way to find where you want is in your campervan, on a grand tour that goes round at least twice, once in high tourist/midge season and again in dead of winter. Like both in any one area and start looking for properties! I'd summer on the east coast as I hate tourist coaches and loathe midges but they love me. I'd winter on the west because I love isolated stunning scenery and don't need to go out anywhere to be happy. You get more daylight in the summer up north but a lot of dark and weather in the winter. Borders and D&G you get the scenic without so much isolation but if weather hits you can be just as stuck.
Jump in the van and head north, you won't regret it - twice round Scotland and when you park somewhere and don't want to leave, don't!
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I hate midges. What times of the year are they at their worst and when is it reasonably ok
We're in Moray - and we get midges in 2 sessions - June/July - usually when we're out in the fields pulling ragwort, and again in early September. They can be really bothersome in the right weather conditions - esp if there's no wind. But there are repellent sprays - we use Jungle Juice & that seems to keep them off. The midges are attracted by our livestock - we keep Shetland cattle, and poultry - there's often a cloud floating about near the hen houses.
Apart from that, Moray is great - friendly people, wonderful location - the beaches are clean with lovely fine sand, the rivers are glorious and a great place to see wildlife, and the mountains are stunning. All of this can be reached within about a 30 min drive from either of the major towns (Forres & Elgin).
The weather is usually OK - we don't get too much of anything - the Cairngorms stop most of the rain & snow getting here. But - it does snow here in April - proper, laying on the ground snow, and we often get a few snow showers in May. The summer days are long - there is enough light at 2am to watch the cows munching in the fields. The winter days are short - by 3pm the sun is disappearing. Temps are not too bad - some winters are cold - a well insulated house, and good outdoor clothing is a good idea. Summer temps are good - this year I think we had our first BBQ in May - yes I know the same month we had snow! It is said you can have all 4 seasons in the same day here - snow, light rain, brilliant sunshine and then strong winds.
Hope you find somewhere you'll be happy in.
Sue
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I agree, have always loved the Moray area. Passed through many a time when we lived in Old Rayne and visited my sister in Inverness. I really like Forres, lovely gardens and they have won awards for their planting schemes,
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Skye, wet n midgey n windy. However, due to the Gulf Stream there isn't a massive temperature delta.
Go to plokton, around 15 miles from me, and there are palm trees along the main street.
Seldom have snow at sea level here.
There's a 2 bed house near me with a few acres of croft for 130k and, as it has been on a while, you may even sneak in at 10% ish under that.
Things are distant mind. It does sound scary when Inverness is nigh on 90 miles away but, to be honest, we have found that you get used to it and, when compared to the traffic-snarled cities and suburban areas, we can travel the distances quicker than some travel a few miles. I was in Nottinghamshire last week and I was getting really fed up of the traffic, traffic lights, jams and tailbacks trying to travel just a few miles.......horses for courses.
good luck
Sskye
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So true southernskye, I lived in a village and it took me longer to go into town 9 miles away than it takes me to go 9 miles in central Scotand so in Skye, distance is all relevant. I hated driving around Nottingham, sometimes worked there and my husband went into the Queens medical center a few times....I detest traffic now.....A relation came up from London and said it take him 2 or more hours to get home, he works in the city and lives in the city......
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And also there are seals and dolphins along the Moray coast.
There are some very pretty villages all along the Moray coastline, some are all winding lanes and look like Brigadoon, some are laid out on the traditional grid system - not so picturesque but better for parking up a motorhome overwinter.
If you want to rent out the property in summer then seaside places like Cullen would be ideal. Portsoy is a good combination of attractive and practical with a nice harbour and good for fishing. Portsoy also has the very popular boat festival every year.
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There are plenty of cheaper places in orkney and the rental prices are good. Its just the ferry can be pricey.
Be careful of buying a croft if you are travelling as they can take it off you if you don't live on it or farm it. But there are plenty of smallholdings that aren't credits. Croft land is usually in the highlands and west coast and will say in the property advert if it's a registered croft.
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You could try the website www.greenshifters.co.uk (http://www.greenshifters.co.uk) a few properties in Scotland on it as well as other countries.
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Rural Scene also have a few Scottish properties on their books - not sure if it still listed but they used to have a smallholding on one of the islands with approx 20 acres or so for sale at £120k - you just need to like wind !!!