People looking to relocate to our "cabin in the storm"

Wednesday 02 December 2020

Guernsey’s open housing market has become incredibly buoyant during the corona virus pandemic, which is in part due to us being perceived as a 'safe haven'.

October was the busiest month for a decade and builds on a hectic year that has also seen Locate Guernsey record a surge in enquiries.

“Guernsey’s advantages are perhaps even more attractive,” said Managing Director and open market sales negotiator at Swoffers, Craig Whitman, “as coronavirus unfortunately continues to have such a massive impact on the lives of those in the UK and further afield.”

“The economic situation and continued uncertainty in the UK, and globally, has brought Guernsey to the attention of many new potential clients as well as encouraging those who may have previously considered making the move to start taking action.”

Pictured: Guernsey has become a popular place to relocate as it continues to remain relatively covid-free.

There have been 77 open market house sales so far this year and October 2020 saw the best one-month total for a decade.

Many people have been buying properties without even having set foot in them.

“We’ve had clients completing the purchases of open market properties on the basis of virtual viewings,” explained Carey Olsen’s Head of Property, Jason Morgan.

Enquiries from outside the Bailiwick continue to come in on a daily basis and it has been stressed that this is good news.

“It means that wealthy individuals are coming to the island, spending their money here and investing locally,” said Mr Morgan.

Pictured: The market has been considered a sellers market with some properties going for higher than their asking price.

“Even with the continued challenges of travelling to and from the island, we have seen continued interest in what Guernsey has to offer, particularly amongst those looking to relocate,” concluded Swoffers' Craig Whitman.

Pictured top: The global pandemic has sped up some people's plans to relocate here.