Released on = June 28, 2007, 10:09 am

Press Release Author = Jimwatson

Industry = Real Estate

Press Release Summary = Many of those looking to invest in property are already
looking to Scotland, with its many lifestyle advantages such as the comparatively
small size of its cities, at least against London, plus the proximity of outstanding
countryside. These cities offer an improving cultural scene, more city living and
easy escape to the wilds. Glasgow, for example, lies less than an hours\' drive from
the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park.

Press Release Body = Many of those looking to invest in property are already looking
to Scotland, with its many lifestyle advantages such as the comparatively small size
of its cities, at least against London, plus the proximity of outstanding
countryside. These cities offer an improving cultural scene, more city living and
easy escape to the wilds. Glasgow, for example, lies less than an hours\' drive from
the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park.

But the advantages are not just about the proximity of lochs and mountains. Property
agency Rettie recently stated that Scottish cities were an \"obvious investment
choice for those looking to invest and save\", offering an \"attractive investment
prospect for a wide range of buyers.\"

Rettie\'s director of land and homes Mathew Benson and director of residential sales
Tony Perriam explained that \"Scotland has historically had a relatively high price
differential with the south east and many other parts of the UK.\" This relative
value differential was in turn, they stated, driving price movements upwards as
investors picked up on the opportunities presented, they stated.

The three cities they cited as the main examples of this were the east coast cities
of Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee. All three had seen a \"surge\" in residential
property prices according to last month\'s Lloyd\'s TSB Scotland House Price Monitor.
Of these, Aberdeen has a reputation as a boom town with a thriving oil industry and
the fastest rising house prices in Scotland while Edinburgh enjoys the status and
prestige of a capital city.

Dundee, however, is a different case, according to Kevin Mitchell, chairman of
property specialists Edinburgh Residential. He states Dundee is \"simply now catching
up with property prices\" after many lean years, since there is no notable expansion
in population or employment prospects to drive the market in other ways.

There are areas of popularity offering the buy-to-let market opportunities that are
common to all three cities, with all three scoring 62 per cent in the recent poll by
AccommodationForStudents.com to find the best town or city to study in, just behind
the top destination of Aberystwyth. Nonetheless, the differences are there, with
each one offering its own opportunities.

In Aberdeen, first-time-buyers are being pushed out of the city more each year due
to the oil industry, Mr Mitchell stated, saying: \"Aberdeen is always a terribly,
terribly strong market. If the oil industry is making money house prices go up.\"
This may suggest that where a buy-to-let investor can get property in the city
rather than surrounding districts, those keen to live in Aberdeen may take up the
lifestyle-friendly option of renting when this is made available rather than looking
to buy further out and have a longer journey to work.

In Edinburgh, Mr Mitchell notes, there is a different scenario, in which older
properties are much more popular than new build with locals, meaning the most
popular investments will be buildings with a bit of age but potential for
conversion.

Overall, Messrs Benson and Perriam at Rettie are keen to emphasise, Scotland has
highly favourable yields for property investors. As they put it: \"Even with rental
incomes offering yields at below five per cent and sometimes below three per cent
gross, this is still not unattractive compared with the yield on most equities or
indeed many bonds.\"


Web Site = http://www.assetz.co.uk/

Contact Details = Assetz House, Newby Road, Stockport, Cheshire, SK7 5DA, 0845 400
7000, linkexchangeseo@gmail.com