Coming out on top was a property that including outbuildings with 87 per cent of those surveyed rating it the most desirable feature. Second on the list was additional land and/or a pony paddock (84 per cent) and the third top feature, gaining 82 per cent of the votes, was a nice quiet peaceful location.

 

Outdoor space again featured high, with a well-maintained and pet-friendly garden the fourth most popular attribute (76 per cent). Completing the top five most wanted features amongst house hunters in the Moray area was property location including easy access to schools and local facilities and a short commute to work, with 72 per cent of those surveyed voting for this.

 

Rod Christie, head of residential for Galbraith in Elgin, said: “Our results from this survey are indicative of the type of buyer attracted to Moray and Speyside where many rural properties have attracted an increased interest from homeowners seeking a rural lifestyle. Properties offering space to set up a business from home, paddocks to ride horses and land to allow home owners to become more sustainable and grow their own produce have been in great demand, and with the cost of food soaring, we expect a lot of interest from this type of buyer.

 

“Also, of keen interest are houses with large kitchens and being located within a short walk to the nearest village pub or shop. Coastal and lochside views were also amongst the top ten most wanted features, no surprise given the stunning scenery and countryside found along the Moray coast.”  

     

68 per cent of those surveyed wanted a property that offered the ability to work from home be it in a separate garden room or a converted room or loft space whilst properties within an hour’s drive of an airport attracted 57 per cent of the votes and coastal and lochside views reaching 53 per cent.

 

The sales report for the first quarter of 2022 shows that year on year Galbraith in Moray sold double the number of properties, launched 61 per cent more properties to the open market and carried out 2.5 times as many viewings with prospective buyers than the same period in 2021.    

 

Currently for sale through Galbraith in Moray are properties including the following:

 

  • Riversyde, High Street, Aberlour, Guide Price £535,000 - Riversyde is an attractive traditional house constructed of stone and retains many original features including impressive fireplaces and large bay windows allowing natural light to filter in whilst offering stunning views over the rear garden and out towards the River Spey. The house sits within an extensive and charming garden and to the rear of the house, the grounds extend beyond the stone wall and include an area of rough ground.

 

 

  • Upper Auchenreath, Fochabers, Moray, Offers Over £535,000 - an impressive farmhouse located in an accessible yet very private position to the east of Fochabers. The property comprises a spacious farmhouse, a range of traditional and modern farm buildings and grounds which in total extend to about 7.88 acres. The idyllic grounds are sheltered and secluded by woodland and include a wooded embankment, a vegetable patch, an orchard, the mown ‘haugh land’ which is a wonderful setting for barbecues and entertaining and larger events on the banks of the Burn and an elevated field which would make an ideal pony paddock.