North estate agents are bracing themselves for a property bounce along the NC500 as it continues to grow in popularity.
Property marketing group Highlands Solicitors Property Centre (HSPC) is now listing on a dedicated page all properties which are located just a few miles from the route.
And Tain-based solicitors and estate agent MacKenzie & Cormack has been marketing the NC500 on the front of their brochures for the past three months.
A spokeswoman for the local firm said: “The NC500 is certainly bringing more people to the area. It’s gone stratospheric since it’s featured more on TV.
“I would not be surprised (if there was a property bounce) because the route is attracting more people that would probably never have thought about going that way, and they are certainly seeing houses and locations they’ve never seen before.
“It’s absolutely an exciting prospect. The NC500 is a fantastic thing and that is why we have started marketing it on the front of our brochures.”
HSPC manager Sarah Woodcock said their group has received lots of inquiries from people living outwith the area who are looking for properties – and some have mentioned the NC500.
Ms Woodcock said: “It’s a good way to showcase the Highlands as a brilliant place to live.
“Sales are quicker than they probably have been. We can not get enough properties on the website. It’s a sellers’ market and inquiries are through the roof.”
And Ms Woodcock said that the number of HSPC website visits broke 70,000 last month, capping off an average 10% month-by-month increase over the last year.
She added: “Every way we can highlight our properties adds to the market, and the NC 500 does help as people are interested in it and especially those from outside of the area.”
The NC500 was launched in May 2015 by the North Highland Initiative in an effort to develop sustainable economic growth across the Highlands.
The 516-mile route has always been there but the branding has worked wonders.
The name has appeared and been ranked as a top destination in numerous global titles, including National Geographic and CNN.
Survey research produced earlier this year highlighted the potential for 200 more jobs in the tourism trade as a result.
But some have complained that overuse of the route will lead to damage of the road.
