Plenty of reasons to buy a bigger home
Developers are responding to the demand for larger properties as modern family dynamics and working arrangements change, writes Kirsty Mcluckie
There are lots of reasons to opt for the largest house that you can afford.
The traditional route of a one-bedroomed flat as a first-time purchase, followed by steady steps up the housing ladder every few years, as a family and its income grows, can make for an expensive way to access a sizeable property.
As the costs of buying and selling have increased, particularly at the top end of the market, it doesn’t make financial sense to move house every time you need to access a little more space.
Market considerations are a factor too. Nationwide’s House Price Index reported that house prices rose by just 0.2 per cent in September, marking the tenth month in a row that the annual house price growth was recorded as under 1 per cent. In a slow market, staying longer in a property is more attractive.
It isn’t all about adding a bedroom each time there is an addition to the family either.
Modern families are changing their make-up, step families becoming more prevalent and multi-generational living, with adult children or older relatives, can all add up to a need for extra space.
And, with the numbers of people working from home increasing over the last ten years, more buyers are looking to have a designated office away from communal areas. Add in other attractive additions, such as home gyms, cinemas and hobby rooms, and a small family isn’t likely to rattle around a larger home.
Developers are responding to these demands, and adding five-bedroom properties to their portfolios.
Mactaggart and Mickel has unveiled a five-bedroomed Spence showhome in the village of Killearn in Stirlingshire. Buchanan Views is a beautiful development with an abundance of green space and a pretty village square.
The final Spence homes, priced from £624,995, have striking exteriors and interiors with a high specification throughout, including sanitary-ware by Laufen, tiling by Porcelanosa, and provision for fibre-optic connections. Partexchange and a LBTT contribution of £10,000 are available.
Detached five-bedroomed properties are also on sale at the company’s Lethington Gardens development at Haddington. These are priced from £399,995, and are also available with an LBTT contribution and part-exchange.
Mactaggart and Mickel has also designed a more affordable five-bedroomed house type, the Rannoch, priced from £219,995 to £234,995.
The terraced townhouse is currently available at Carrongrove in Denny, near Falkirk.
Dandara’s Barley Brae, located a mile from the centre of North Berwick, is also offering detached five-bedroomed homes.
The newly released Cedar house type is all about space, with an integral garage, sitting room, openplan dining-kitchen and sun room, plus a designated downstairs study. Three of the five bedrooms have an ensuite and there is a family bathroom. Standard specification includes photovoltaic panels and folding doors into the garden. Prices start from £739,950.
Cala Homes is busy building five-bedroomed homes across Scotland and has just launched two larger showhomes at Law Gardens in North Berwick. One five-bedroomed property is still available from the first release, priced at £510,000 for entry this year. The Garvie and Kennedy showhomes are pric ed at £605,000 and £670,000 with a leaseback deal, giving the purchaser a guaranteed return while the properties are used as showhomes.