What is making the Scottish housing market so different to England right now?

The Scotland housing market 2026 continues to stand apart and for any mortgage broker Scotland-based, understanding the Scottish property market is key. In this episode of Mortgage Insider, host Phil Spencer is joined by Colleen Badcock (Rightmove, Head of Partner Marketing and Property Expert) and Lynne Peterkin (First Mortgage, Managing Director, Scotland) to explore what it really takes to buy a house in Scotland. From how the Home Report shapes pricing and bidding, to the realities of offers over and the speed of transactions, they unpack how the Scottish system works including how long it takes to buy a house in Scotland, compared to Scotland vs England conveyancing speed. With high demand from first-time buyers in Scotland, the conversation shares practical Scotland first-time buyer tips and how to get on the property ladder in Scotland. We also cover the technical detail such as Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT), the Scotland additional dwelling supplement tax, whether Scotland is a seller’s market, and why strong yields for Scottish landlords continue to attract interest. The episode also dives into the data behind Scotland house prices, including regional differences in house prices in Scotland, and how the market compares. The guests discuss affordable homes in Scotland vs England to the key question: is it cheaper to buy in Scotland? Plus, trends around moving from London to Scotland, moving from South-East England to Scotland, and a full Scotland vs England property market comparison. A focused, practical deep dive into one of the UK’s most distinct property markets.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.