Property sales surge
THE FESTIVE season property market enjoyed another surge in sales including a £1.65m. home sold during the week of Christmas to someone from the Isle of Man.
Property sales took place on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, with around 10 in total, including a £1.13m. property and a £2.44m property, both in St Martin’s.
Overall there were 1,633 sales in 2020, a near 7% increase from 2019 of 1,529, as well as a quarter rise in value to £726.4m.
It was the highest value of property sales since 2000.
Swoffers described its record year as ‘phenomenal’ and ‘way beyond’ their expectations and something no one could have predicted after lockdown.
The Open Market itself was extremely busy with 23 exchanged alone in December.
Open Market director at Swoffers, Shauna Clapham said there were some extraordinary sales, including buyers travelling in to the island using business tunnels purchasing a property on the same day as their visit.
‘It was far busier than we expected, we sold over 53% of all Open Market properties including the highest value sale of the year at just over £5m.,’ she said.
‘We also sold multi million pound property via a Facetime viewing which was a first for us.’
She added that there would hopefully be much more to look forward to.
‘It’s clear that Guernsey’s handling of the pandemic has further enhanced our reputation as a safe haven and we are optimistic about 2021,’ she said.
‘Although we are probably not likely to see the benefit of this until later in the year when the vaccine has been rolled out and safe travel starts to open up again.’
In December there were 207 conveyances – just one fewer than the record month of October.
Swoffers Local Market director Andre Austin said there were many positives to take from the year.
‘It was unprecedented, we’ve never seen anything like it and it was at every level of the market,’ she said.
‘We sold one in four local market properties and over 40% of all the local market sales over £1m. including the highest local market sale of the year of £2.7m.
‘The rental market was just as busy with huge demand from on and off island.
‘We are optimistic about 2021, the challenge this year will be a shortage of stock across the market.’
In 2020 there were 99 sales priced at over £1m.
