As revealed by the Press and Journal last week, house prices in Aberdeen are currently rising by £5,000 a month.
While there’s no guarantee prices will continue to rise, it does serve as a reminder that, as a general rule of thumb, putting your money into bricks and mortar is a good idea.
And it’s not just within the Granite City that property prices are on the up.
In 2009, we ran a feature on an unusual property, Parrandier, a 19th-century former church two miles from the mediaeval village of Urquhart.
At that time, it was open to offers over £549,000.
Today, this hidden gem is on the market with estate agents Bell Ingram for offers over £595,000.
That’s a difference of £46,000 in five years – a pretty impressive figure by anybody’s standard.
Even with the price change, the new buyer gets a huge amount of property for the price.
Having undergone a drastic conversion, Parrandier now has seven impressive bedrooms – three of which are en-suite – two bathrooms, two lounge rooms, a main kitchen, an office and an apartment.
The converted church also offers copious amounts of storage space and comes with a wealth of fabulous gothic features.
The building sits on two acres of land featuring a pond, a stream and a whole hillock along with a fully operational bell tower, reinforcing its ecclesiastical ties and providing stunning views across the surrounding countryside.
Joanne Stennett, of Bell Ingram’s Inverness office, said: “Parrandier is an incredibly unusual property that I think will generate a lot of interest from both home-buyers and people looking to set up a business.
“The scale of this property makes for a great business opportunity for buyers or potential big families looking for lots of space.
“The separate entrances between the main flat and the integral apartment – which can easily be developed and expanded – is also a key selling point as it would help potential landlords maintain their privacy should they choose to rent out the apartment.
“As well, the two roads leading into the property provide separate driveways for tenants to enter the property and park their vehicles at their leisure.”
Parrandier has managed to maintain its traditional feel and impressive architecture despite its modern and quirky conversion.
The traditional style of the church windows allows for plenty of light to the front of the building while the double-glazed windows around the sides ensure a bright feel throughout the remainder of the property.
The main entrance boasts large, gothic wooden doors which give a mediaeval and rustic feel to the property.
Despite its mediaeval appearance, the conversion has ensured that the property is exquisitely modern inside – within the en-suite of the master bedroom, for example, there’s a sauna
Owner Andreas Peter said: “We hope Parrandier church will provide as much happiness to the next owners as it has me.
“Between the tranquil setting and the sheer amount of space inside, this property should tick many boxes for prospective buyers.
“We’ve run a successful B&B with a self-catering apartment here, providing us with a steady income, but for us it’s time to move.
“I hope whoever or whatever the church is used for in the future, they will enjoy it as much as possible and indulge in the uniqueness of the home.”
Despite being tucked away in the countryside, the property is easily reached as there are good road links to it. It’s 10 minutes from the white, sandy beaches on the Moray coastline and less than an hour’s drive to Inverness.
The property also has full planning consent in place indefinitely, meaning there is the possibility for three apartments or a small hotel with up to nine bedrooms to be created.
Contact: Bell Ingram on 01463 717799.