Those areas have always been around established cities with Edinburgh traditionally leading the pack. However, Aberdeen and Glasgow have also noting significant increases. The new increase means that parents north of the border are now willing to pay the same premium as London parents who pay an extra £70,675 (US$91,418) to live in good school districts. The difference is that the cheapest house prices in East London average around $400,000 whilst the most expensive in Central London average over $2.5 million.

University of Glasgow (photo courtesy of The University of Glasgow)

For Scottish parents the investment in a good school distract is worth it as it could well be the last investment they make in their children’s education. University is free for Scottish citizens and considering the high caliber of Scottish Universities — Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee to name but a few — a real estate investment earlier in life could more than pay for itself. As a finger in the eye to the current British government who are trying to force through Brexit, the Scottish government (Scotland voted unanimously to stay in the EU) is now extending their free university policy to non-UK European students who travel to Scotland to study after the UK’s formal Brexit date. Britain is scheduled to exit the EU in March 2019, two years after Theresa May sent the Article 50 letter.

Author J.K. Rowling's Edinbugh home (photo coutesy of priceypads.com)

The feel good factor around Scotland and Edinburg in particular, which has always been a bastion for art and literature, (current residents include novelists J.K. Rowling and Ian Rankin amongst others) has seen house prices rise faster there than in 20 other UK cities according to the Wall St Journal which cited data released by Hometrack a property analytics firm. Prices in Edinburgh rose 7.2 percent between April 2017 and this year to an average £222,800, (almost US$300,000). London, by comparison, saw below-inflationary price increases of 0.8% over the same period. The average city price growth was 4.9%.

Townhouses in New Town, Edinburgh (photo courtsey of Edinbugh Architecture)

As always supply and demand is pushing up house prices with less inventory on the market and trendy areas such as New Town neighborhood, a Unesco World Heritage site close to Edinburgh Castle, surrounded by pubs and restaurants in high demand. Elsewhere in the city, massive redevelopment is taking place with a $1.3 billion investment in a shopping center. In addition, 112 new new homes ranging from $350,000 to $3.3 million will be constructed.

With students from all over Europe set to make Scotland home in the next few years and house prices in the ascendent, Scots may indeed ask “Brexit, what Brexit?”

The post Brexit,What Brexit? Scottish House Prices Continue To Rise Around Top School Zones appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Whether you’re planning a wedding abroad and want to combine hotel costs for family with the price of renting a venue, are planning the next boutique music festival, or just want to have a vacation for the whole family that doesn’t involve shaking hands with a man in a mascot costume, these castles will have anyone feeling like royalty.

Kilmartin Castle, Scotland

Held originally by the rector of Kilmartin Glen and the Bishop of The Isles, this castle, built in 1550, is a cozy retreat for anyone fond of nature and the beautiful scenery of the Scottish countryside.

Dunskey Castle, Portpatrick

This castle is built on a 2,000-acre property covering glens, forests, gardens, lochs, and waterfalls. The nine beds, 5.5 bath estate also features an expansive library and grand dining room. Contrary to what you might think was intended of a space built to explore nature in, it also has internet access.

Dairsie Castle, Scotland

Located 15 minutes outside St Andrews University, this castle sleeps 13 and is great for everything from the company golf outing at the historic course in St Andrews to a family holiday. The castle is also an hour drive away from Edinburgh, the heart of Scottish culture.

Devon Castle, Devon

A beautiful old mansion in Devon, featuring 5 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms, and broad views reaching out to the ocean, this three story mansion is beautiful in its traditional English design and has several large gardens enclosed in the property to wander through.

Beaulieu Sur Loire Castle, France

Located in central France, and a short drive from Paris, this 10 bedroom, 8 bathroom estate is built across multiple buildings in the commune. The property also features multiple gardens, ponds, pools, and greenery to roam during your stay. Forget having to deal with the neighbors in the room next door when next door are birds chirping round the clock.

The post These Airbnb Castles Are Incredible appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Author J.K. Rowling of Harry Potter fame is bringing some of her magic and imagination to real life by building two enormous 40-foot tree-houses in the garden of her palatial, 17^th century Edinburgh home in the UK.

The City of Edinburgh council received the plans for the twin tree-towers earlier in July.  Illustrations in the plans show that there will be a double swing set, a slide and an attached trampoline. The fantasy playground will have medieval details, such as turrets and a rope bridge connecting the two-story tree-buildings.

Some of the fun and imaginative features that Rowling is renowned for in fiction writing will also be present in the tree-houses; included are a secret tunnel, a fireman’s pole, trap doors equipped with rope ladders and basket-and-pulley systems to work as a sort of children’s transportation method.

The tree-houses, which will include balconies and laterns, were designed by Blue Forest, a company that specializes in building tree-houses for the luxury-minded.  In a nod to environmentalism, the wood used to build the structures will be coming from sustainable sources.

The buildings, although tall, will not be considered to be an eyesore or an inconvenience to neighbours as the Rowling property will surround the tree-houses with 50 foot cypresses for privacy. While it is not usually necessary to obtain permission from the Edinburgh Planning committee to build structures in one’s own garden, any structures over 13 feet in height must be approved before construction can begin.

Construction, unless the plans find six objectors, should begin soon and the entire project is expected to cost over $200,000 USD.

Like the Haute Design Network? Join our Facebook Page

The post Harry Potter’s JK Rowling Building $200,000 Treehouses for her Children at Edinburgh Home appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.