Showcase

Homebuyers are responding enthusiastically to the company's strategy at, among other sites, Lindsayfield, East Kilbride, where a third Lynch site of 40 detached villas and bungalows will soon be opening. There are also properties available at Chapelton, near Strathaven, and King's Knoll, above Drumsagard village in Cambuslang, where prices start at #74,245 for a wide range of three, four and five-bedroom detached villas. At Crossford, in the Clyde Valley, there is a choice of 15 detached villas, all with four or five-double bedrooms, some with nine or 10 apartments and priced from #142,000.

Extra cover

PERSIMMON Homes, now incorporating former Laing developments north of the border, is active on more than 20 sites in west and central Scotland. A choice of properties is available in Airdrie, Paisley, Cumbernauld, Cambuslang, Saltcoats and Springburn among other areas. In Yoker, for instance, two-bedroom flats at the company's Quayside Crescent development on the west side of Glasgow are available from #45,500. Prices for three-bedroom bungalows at the Chapelhall site in Lanarkshire start from #65,495; four-bedroom luxury detached villas in Linlithgow start at #175,000. Other properties include semi-detached and terraced houses as well as waterfront apartments at the Festival Park development on the south side of the Clyde in Glasgow priced from #59,450.

Old-world charm

NEW homebuyers will get a taste of Scotland's heritage as soon as they walk into the Tay Homes Hawick showhome at the company's Coltmuir Grove development in Bishopbriggs. The theme of the interior design is based on a Scottish country house and features tartans, tapestry cushions and wall hangings.

Properties range from three and four-bedroom detached houses, starting at #75,000, and one and two-bedroom flats from #47,500. Other elegant Tay showrooms and show flats can be seen at their developments at Hazel Grove, Ruchazie; Richmond Grove, Cambuslang; Riverpark in Erskine and Bowfield Park at Howwood in Renfrewshire. Tay is also building in Airdrie, Carluke, Kilwinning and Glasgow's West End. Prices range from #27,500 for one-bedroom flats at Hazel Grove to more than #200,000 for a four-bedroom villa at Old Oak Gate near Hamilton. Many incentives - including cashback and fixed-rate mortgages - are available at a number of Tay sites.

Right first time

FIRST-time buyers are becoming more discerning than ever, says Barratt. ''Although they may have less to spend on their first home, it doesn't mean they are prepared to compromise on style and specifications,'' said Barratt West Scotland managing director, Ally Harris. ''They like attractive, traditionally styled homes with a modern interior layout and features such as a good sized lounge and double bedrooms. Location is also important because they want to be able to sell the property easily when the time comes for a move up to their next home.''

First-time buyers can take advantage of Barratt's special #99 Down and Move in Scheme which solves the dilemma facing people who want to buy their own home but can't save up a deposit because they're spending so much on rent.

Barratt is building at 16 locations throughout west central Scotland. Prices range from #39,995 for a two-bedroom cottage flat to #107,300 for a luxury four-bedroom detached property. Buyers with a home to sell can use the free Agency Selling scheme under which Barratt will take on the marketing of your home, and match it with a prospective buyer.

Lapping up luxury

STRATHCLYDE Homes' sales have never been better, according to Trisha Buchanan, the company's sales and marketing coordinator.

''Business has been amazing since the beginning of January,'' says Buchanan. ''We started selling on our Milngavie development early in the year and were overwhelmed by demand. This site consists of luxury flats which appeal primarily to the more mature purchaser who, in many instances, has a sizeable property to sell. There are only two flats left, both priced at just over #100,000.''

Sales have also been brisk at Strathclyde's Drumsagard Village at Cambuslang. The Alexandra Court development of three and four-apartment flats in Dennistoun is enjoying tremendous popularity with first-time buyers, with prices from #48,500 and just a few flats left for sale.

Fittings offer

NOT content with the fully furnished Keats and Tennyson show homes, Redrow Homes has introduced a three-bedroomed semi-detached Turner View home at its Wallacewell Park development in Robroyston, near Glasgow. The property has been fitted out with carpets, curtains and light fittings - all included in the asking price of #66,950. The development also features a wide range of three-bedroom semi-detached and three and four-bedroom detached homes priced between #64,950 and #99,950. At the company's High Parks development in Hamilton, there are plans to increase the selection of four-bedroom detached styles to meet the growing demand for larger properties. Priced from #85,950, the development features a range of three and four-bedroom homes, including the new four-bedroom detached Rhodes-style, the first of its kind to be built in Scotland.

Redrow also has developments on the east coast, at Letham Rise, Dalgetty Bay and Lamb's Nursery, at Newbattle, by Eskbank near Dalkeith. The Newbattle site once formed part of the walled gardens of the original Newbattle Abbey which dates from the 12th century. Indeed, parts of the Monkland Wall still remain and, now classified as a listed building, have been renovated by Redrow to create a unique feature of the company's development. The four and five-bedroom houses being built by Redrow, priced from around #170,000, are some of the largest from the company's range.

Design classics

CARVILL has announced some attractive incentives at its Sadlers Gate site in Strathaven where only a few classically styled, three-bedroom, semi-detached villas remain for sale, priced from #64,995.

At the company's Old Mill Gate in Burnside, a few minutes' walk from the train station, there are 18 two-bedroom luxury apartments, all ensuite and with private parking and security entry.

Prices from #69,500. Carvill's new Kirkton Gardens development, just off the main street in Barrhead, offers one-bedroom flats from #35,000 and two-bedroom from #39,000 including private parking. The company's Citadel Quay development at Ayr will soon be underway. The site, with views to Arran, will comprise 151 flats, including some two-storey penthouses with balconies. Prices from #40,000 to #195,000.

Well within range

Avonside Homes has just released the final phase of three and four-bedroom villas at its Annick Brae development in Stewarton. A few remain, and with prices beginning at #66,250 house hunters can afford a country lifestyle within commutable distance of Glasgow

Showing potential

The John Dickie showhouses at Golf View, Strathaven are proving to be a great attraction at the site where 25 five, six and seven-apartment villas are being built. Only a few properties remain for sale at the firm's Mearnskirk Hospital site, south of Newton Mearns, which comprises 25 flats and 18 detached bungalows and villas.

In Strathblane, Dickie is building six executive villas, priced from #327,000.

And construction has just started on the company's Kirklee Mansions site in the West End, Glasgow, where the first of 60 deluxe three, four and five-apartment flats, priced from #126,000 will be ready for occupancy from January.

Fast-moving homes

PROPERTIES built by Fife-based Muir Homes are proving very attractive. Three were sold within a week of the showhome opening in The Crescent, the firm's latest development, a historic Donibristle house in Dalgety Bay. The period-style houses, two town houses and 12 mews villas, are priced from #110,995 to #114,500.

Going flat out

CALEDONIA Homes, which specialises in building new 1930s'-style bungalos, reports that all 21 three and four-bedroom detached bungalows at Byretown Gardens in Kirkfieldbank, near Lanark, have been reserved in only two weeks. The company is run by Ian and Caroline McMurdo and is rapidly gaining an enviable reputation in central Scotland for combining thirties architecture with modern comforts and style.