Author: Neil Rapson

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!