House hunting can be one of the most stressful things a person can do.
Trying to find the right home that is big enough for the family, in a suitable location for work and the kids’ school and offers all the features that you need can take a lot of research and time. And with so many beautiful places in the Highlands and Islands, knowing where to start can be the first daunting task.
But with this handy list of some of the best homes currently on the market, there’s no need to trawl lots of different websites and listings.
From new builds to traditional properties, this ranges of houses suit all tastes and budgets.
Burnside Cottage, Burnside Street, Portsoy AB45 2QN
Antons Solicitors, Buckie. Tel. 01542 834835
Offers Around £225,000
Set in the heart of the village of Portsoy, this stunning property is situated centrally, just a few minutes’ walk from the historic harbour and Wally Green playing field, the town centre and all its amenities.
Portsoy is a wonderfully welcoming village, hosting the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival each summer, bringing the local area together to celebrate the maritime history, packed with boats, music, crafts, food and drink to celebrate the region’s cultural heritage.
This stunning traditional property is a 1 ½ storey detached family home, with beautifully landscaped gardens front and rear giving privacy and tranquillity. The property was built around the 1850s and is ideally suited to families.
Set over two floors, it has four large double bedrooms, two living areas, two bathrooms, a kitchen and separate dining room. It also has a double garage, with discreet solar panels attached to the roof.
This house is filled with traditional features and character such as original coving and high skirtings, and has been decorated and finished to an impeccable standard.
Outside is what sets this property above others. Its sprawling south facing front garden is filled with mature shrubs and fruit trees, one of which was rumoured to be planted when the house was built in the 1850s and to this day, still produces a good stock of apples.
It is laid with grass, and has a lovely patio area, and herb circle. A gated archway with climbing rose takes you through to the rear patio garden. This would be a stunning place to enjoy outside dining and refreshments, with a large garden shed and external cupboard giving extra storage for the all-important gardening and sports equipment family life can bring.
Viewing is highly recommended for this property. It is in immaculate walk in condition and would be a stunning home.
Find out more at the Antons Solicitors website.
Milton Side, Aviemore PH22 1QD
Caledonia Estate Agency, Aviemore. Tel. 01479 810531
Fixed price £282,500
Situated at the heart of the Cairngorm National Park, and at the head of the Speyside Way, Aviemore, the biggest community within the Cairngorm National Park, is easily accessed by rail, bus and car and is a town for all seasons, set in some of the most imposing surroundings Scotland’s great outdoors has to offer.
There are a diverse range of pursuits available for all ages, including hill walking, rock climbing, skiing, canoeing, gorge walking or mountain biking to name but a few, all set within spectacular scenery.
Milton Side is the first development of its kind in Aviemore, built with the Scottish environment in mind. The houses are sustainable and energy efficient, resulting in a reduced carbon footprint and lower running costs, yet not compromising on quality. And there is only one opportunity left to buy one of these highly sought after properties – Plot 17. This is a three bedroom semi-detached house with carport.
Located within a wooded setting in a well-established residential area at the north end of Aviemore, the development is a mixture of two and three bedroom, detached and semi-detached properties, all benefitting from a community bio-mass heating system, powered by four 70kw pellet boilers.
Bio-mass materials are considered a carbon-neutral source of energy, despite producing carbon dioxide, they only release approximately the same amount they absorb while growing.
Visit the Caledonia Estate Agency website for more details.
Strathisla Park, Keith AB55 5JS
Deveron Homes, Keith. Tel. 01542 880117
Prices from £115,950 to £242,950
You seek the best and you’ve earned it. You seek perfection and now it’s yours for the asking. A brand new bungalow on a generous plot? A glorious location with open views over the countryside? A new family home close to the town centre with a regular bus route on the doorstep? Then Strathisla Park in Keith is exactly what you’ve been waiting for.
Want to move before Christmas? Plot 55, The Macallan king-size four bed bungalow is ready now and offers ultra-large lounge with open aspect to the south with glorious views of the hills, dining kitchen, utility, king-size master suite, three further double beds and main bathroom. Fixed Price: £242,950.
Here is a range of two, three and four bedroom bungalows and spacious villas tailored to the needs of modern living; from families in search of room to grow, to those who yearn for a bungalow home and a quieter pace of life.
There is also a range of two and three bedroom starter homes especially for first timers, young couples and growing families on a limited budget. Help To Buy is also available to assist with mortgage finance. Prices from £115,950.
One thing is for certain…..whatever you choose, homebuyers will love living close to the countryside at Strathisla Park. This new, lively community is just a gentle stroll from Keith town centre where excellent transport links by road, rail and bus brings Keith into close proximity of Aberdeen, Huntly and Elgin.
The showhome is open between 11am and 5pm, Thursday to Monday. The development is easy to find, just off the main A96 from Reidhaven Square, via Edindiach Road.
For more details see the Deveron Homes website.
Duncansfield, Elgin, IV30 8TA
Springfield Properties, Elgin. Tel. 01343 552550
Fixed price £239,950
Springfield’s Duncansfield development is ideally situated in the up and coming town of Elgin.
It offers access to modern shopping areas as well as historical cobbled market streets. World class golf courses and mountain biking and hillwalking tracks are just a few of the activities available on your doorstep.
Elgin train station is a short drive from the development and has links to major Scottish cities such as Aberdeen and Inverness.
Available at Duncansfield is the very popular Culbin house style. It is a four bedroom home with a spacious open plan living area, perfect for family life as well as entertaining. The kitchen comes complete with integrated appliances.
It has also has a spacious separate lounge with a large windows allowing natural light to flow through. A utility room and a WC are also present on the ground floor.
Upstairs you will find this property’s generously-sized four bedrooms, with the master bedroom featuring a walk-in wardrobe and an en suite. The other three bedrooms include integrated wardrobes with bedroom four also having an en suite.
The family bathroom is equipped with a shower over the bath giving you the option of a long relaxing soak or a quick shower. All bathrooms are completed with a mirror, vanity units and a heated chrome towel rail.
Additional storage space can be found throughout the property.
For more information visit the Springfield website.
The Heights, Ladystone, Bunchrew, by Inverness, IV3 5TB
Murchison Law, Inverness. Tel. 01463 709992
Offers over £360,000
The Heights is a well-appointed five bedroom family home, built around 2002 to a very high standard.
Located in a commanding position overlooking the Beauly Firth, the Black Isle and Ross-shire beyond, this property offers all the benefits of country living but is still within only a short drive of the bustling city of Inverness, with spectacular views en route!
The accommodation is comprised of a hallway, lounge, dining kitchen, utility room, family room, guest bedroom, guest bathroom, study/bedroom 5, master bedroom with en suite bathroom, family bathroom and two bedrooms.
All living accommodation is on the same level and on the lower level is a double garage, which provides space for much more than just the standard two vehicles.
All carpets and floor coverings, curtain poles and blinds throughout the house and the shed, greenhouse and bench in the garden are included in the sale.
Viewing is highly recommended to fully appreciate all that The Heights has to offer.
For more details, visit the Murchison Law website.
Kylesmorar East Burrafirth, Bixter, Shetland, ZE2 9NE
Neil Risk Solicitor and Estate Agent, Lerwick. Tel. 01595 695262
Offers in the region of £250,000
Architecturally designed and built in 2015 to a very high standard, Kylesmorar is a substantial modern three-bedroomed house set in a large site in East Burrafirth. Enjoying spectacular open sea views of Aithsvoe and the surrounding landscape, this new property is in an ideal location and has been designed to appreciate the stunning scenery.
Set prominently on a hill overlooking Aithsvoe, Kylesmorar is located in East Burrafirth, Bixter, on the west mainland of Shetland. The property is ideal for wildlife enthusiasts, as a variety of whales and other sea mammals can be seen regularly in the voe, and the location is a fantastic spot for birdwatching. East Burrafirth is approximately 23 miles from Lerwick, and 3 miles from the village of Aith. Aith has both a primary school and junior high school, leisure centre with swimming pool, public hall with Rankin Lounge bar, co-operative shop and post office, garage and charity shop. There is also the Michaelswood garden, marina, and the RNLI lifeboat station which holds a popular annual gala.
Kylesmorar is a contemporary recent build, benefitting from high levels of insulation, by NCG Builders Ltd. Heating is provided by way of air source heat pump, and the property features underfloor heating throughout the ground floor, and central heating radiators on the first floor. The site is ready for landscaping, allowing a new owner to apply their own character to Kylesmorar.
The sale of the property includes all fixtures, fittings, curtains and blinds. White goods, excluding the washing machine and tumble dryer, are also included in the sale. Some furniture is available to purchase by separate negotiation.
To find out more, visit the Neil Risk website.
Balgate Mill, Kiltarlity, by Inverness
William Gray Homes, Inverness. Tel. 01463 712072
Prices from £175,000
Balgate Mill, Kiltarlity, a brand new development from William Gray Homes situated just 12 miles from Inverness, three miles from Beauly and nine miles from Drumnadrochit.
The development is a quiet cul-de-sac of attractive and stylish residential properties with enclosed gardens, a playpark and off-street parking.
The houses are designed with spacious interiors with generous open plan living space, contemporary kitchen and bathroom, excellent storage and immaculate finish. They are a mix of three and four bedroom properties, any of which you will be proud to call home.
Kitchens come fitted with the latest appliances and are attractively laid out with contemporary base and wall units. The open plan design of the kitchen and living/dining space creates a versatile area for family living and entertaining. Each living space is furnished with a wood burning stove, a cosy focal point which will warm your home in winter months.
Bathroom suites are white and chrome with fresh, complementary tiling, and all bedrooms are doubles, most benefitting from fitted wardrobes.
To view one of these highly desirable properties, contact William Gray Homes on 01463 712072 or email info@williamgray.co.uk.