Inverness housebuilder Tulloch Homes is plotting a return to the Aberdeen market after home sales return to pre-recession levels.
Tulloch said home sales increased 29%in the first five months of the year compared to the same period last year.
The uptick represents the “best five-month sales scenario” since the financial downturn in 2008, the company said.
Tulloch Homes chief executive George Fraser pent-up local demand, more mortgage availability and the government’s Help To Buy scheme have all combined to produce the sales surge.
Tulloch is aiming to return to the Aberdeen market after many years’ absence and are in discussion with planners over the detail of a development of apartments in Duff Street, near the city centre.
Mr Fraser said: “The market is highly buoyant, with April and May being exceptionally active with us.
“We had a good first five months of 2013, but this has been outstripped by this year’s figures and the forward outlook remains very positive.
“Inverness, the Black Isle and Aviemore have been extremely busy in sales terms. Pent-up local demand, more mortgage availability and the Help To Buy scheme have all combined to produce this sales surge.
“We’ve taken on 34 more staff in the past nine months and will be recruiting further in late summer,” he added.
Tulloch, which employ 150 people, hasa supply chain of 1000 Highland jobs wholly or largely dependent on their sub-contracts.
Sales director Lynne Boyd said: “A series of new phases at existing developments are in the process of being released to meet demand.
“In addition, a new development of two, three and four bedroom villas and cottage flats will begin at Broomhill, Muir of Ord, this autumn.”
The launch of Braes of Conon at Conon Bridge under the Cameron and Paterson banner has been successful and a new phase with brand new house types has just been launched.
At Chanonry Park, Fortrose, only five houses remain in the current phase.
At Kirkhill, only nine homes, two, three and four bedroom bungalows, remain to sell and complete the Black Isle View development.
High Burnside at Aviemore, a favourite with those seeking a holiday home in Cairngorms National Park, has the last handful of homes remaining before sellout completion.
The Inverness market goes from strength to strength, with hugely popular Greenfields moving into its final phase of 20 homes this summer.
Monarchs View at Milton of Leys is a sell-out and the final 44-home phase will begin this summer.
A major new site in Inverness, Hedgefield House and its environs, is underway with the refurbishment of the mansion to create nine luxury one, two and three bedroom apartments available from the autumn. This will be followed by a rollout of new build apartments in this prime location only a few minutes walk from the city centre.