Author: Neil Rapson

Christmas came early in Scotland – qualification for the 2026 World Cup was a special gift and the manner of the victory against Denmark sent sales of Tennents Lager through the roof…

The investment market has not had quite the same buzz this year, but several larger deals have completed in the final quarter, which has made the year-end position look healthier and ahead of the 5-year average.

Oasis isn’t the only comeback story of 2025. Perhaps not as high profile (or as eagerly awaited) but the prime city centre retail/leisure sectors in Glasgow and Edinburgh are seeing renewed investor appetite. A combination of attractive entry yields, reasonably robust tenant demand and rental growth are all combining to make the investment rationale more compelling.

Consistency of performance can be the most powerful differentiator of all…!

A quote most often used in a sporting context but one that can be just as relevant in the world of real estate. With so much uncertainty and volatility in recent times, investors are constantly looking for sectors that are delivering consistent performance.

It has felt like the market has been in hibernation over the winter for longer than is usual and it has taken till the arrival of Spring and some welcome sunshine, to see some signs of renewed activity.

A combination of our national and international politicians (don’t you just love them) doing little to instil any real economic confidence/stability, on top of precious little stock openly on the market and cautious investor appetite has all led to a fairly muted start to the year.

It feels like most investment agents will be singing a little louder than this time last year but not yet belting it out from the roof tops! The market is better for sure, volumes are up, interest rates are lower, confidence is building but caution remains.
Despite the October budget doing little for wider business confidence, investor appetite for real estate remains reasonably robust. That said, it is a polarised picture with prime assets seeing a deepening buyer pool and if something looks like “real value” then there is a good level of interest. In between remains fickle.

Maybe so but it has certainly been an eventful summer! Since our last review – we have had a new UK Government, (two) attempts to shoot former President Donald Trump, further unrest in the Middle East and Ukraine advances into parts of Russia, more macro uncertainty. Yet despite all of this (and say it quietly), there are signs that we are finding some stability at the prime end of the commercial property market in Scotland.

Over the last few years, at times it has felt like Donald Duck or The Muppets might have done a better job at running the country (locally and nationally). However, on the eve of a General Election, let’s hope that whoever wins can set us on a path of renewed optimism and creating an environment where business can flourish and really drive a period of sustained economic growth. A rising tide lifts all boats, and you must start with job creation.

At a macro-level, it feels like there wasn’t a lot “right” either economically or geo-politically for the year just passed and for many in the investment market, the end of 2023 could not come quick enough. However, we don’t subscribe to the adage of “survive till ‘25”, we are more in the camp of “get in the door in ‘24”…

At a macro-level, it feels like there wasn’t a lot “right” either economically or geo-politically for the year just passed and for many in the investment market, the end of 2023 could not come quick enough. However, we don’t subscribe to the adage of “survive till ‘25”, we are more in the camp of “get in the door in ‘24”…

By the time this edition goes live, the Rugby World Cup will be well
underway but trying to predict the eventual winner is almost as
difficult as trying to call the property market at the moment.

With Wimbledon upon us, Andy Murray is back and in good form! Two recent tournament victories and he is looking competitive once again – how has he achieved it?

As Lismore Real Estate Advisors celebrates its 3rd birthday, it’s fair to say that it has been a rollercoaster!