The Talking-up Scotland fund raiser primarily, finishing on 28 February, to enable the recruitment of some research assistance, in order to take pressure off me [74 in June and tiring] and hopefully to further improve the blog, has made a good start. To contribute, only if you can (!) go to: Talking-up Scotland – a Politics crowdfunding project in Ayr by Professor John Robertson
By JB
From the Registers of Scotland report on Residential property sales in Scottish Islands Regions:
Cash and mortgage sales
Looking at differences in the number of cash and mortgage sales, across mainland Scotland 63% of residential sales were funded with a mortgage in 2023 and 37% were cash sales. In the Scottish Island regions, the percentage of cash sales is higher, with 57% cash sales and 43% with a mortgage. The percentage cash sales for each island region, ranging from 39% in Shetland – Mainland and connected to 75% in Arran, Bute and the Cumbraes.
Change in prices in last 5 years
Median prices across the island regions have increased by 30% from £140,000 in 2018 to £182,000 in 2023. This compares with an increase of 23% over the same period in mainland Scotland, from £151,000 to £185,000.
With Arran, Bute and the Cumbraes having the highest percentage of cash sales at 75% that would mean that people from whatever part of the UK have “disposable income” and can afford a “second home” or are selling up to retire to their favourite Scottish Island destination, though, some still feel the need to moan about our SNP Scottish Government and subsidised world class ferry service.
JB
Source:
Support Scots Independent, Scotland’s oldest pro-independence newspaper and host of the OBA (Oliver Brown Award) at: https://scotsindependent.scot/FWShop/shop/
The Oliver Brown Award for advancing the cause of Scotland’s self respect, previously awarded to Dr Philippa Whitford, Alex Salmond and Sean Connery: https://scotsindependent.scot/?page_id=116
About Oliver Brown, the first Scottish National Party candidate to save his deposit in a Parliamentary election: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Brow
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
Sadly, these things are not new.
Over 40 years ago I worked in Lanarkshire and many of my colleagues lived in small villages in the Clyde valley.
The housing market in London and the South East was in one of its inflationary frenzies and converted coal cellars in West London were being sold for funny money.
Then some smart arse estate agent started advertising substantial detached houses in the Clyde Valley in London papers and magazines. These were about half the price of the coal cellar. As a result, colleagues were finding themselves being gazumped by outsiders paying ridiculous sums.
The local market was grossly distorted and local people began selling out and younger people could not find the money to buy houses locally.
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As I’ve been saying for some considerable time now this is colonisation by stealth. No longer able to attract incomers from Europe and beyond and as England descends into the abyss the opportunity has been used by folks from rUK to find a better life in Scotland. Just like the Spanish ‘Costas’, Arran and other isles will soon become little enclaves so expect more Ferry bad news etc on the BBC. Wake up Scotland Independence has never been more pressing than it is now.
Robbo
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