The Rowling effect
August 10, 2003 at 1:49 AM ET
grae
Wizard News (via Sunday Mail)
If you were thinking about moving to JK Rowling's new neighborhood, you'd better have some pretty deep pockets. Locals say the arrival of the Harry Potter author in Perthshire has caused property prices to soar through the roof
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A three-bedroom farmhouse next to Rowling's Strathtay property sold last week for well over £300,000. That's around £200,000 more than it would have fetched a couple of years ago.
The man who sold JK her mansion, estate agent William Jackson, of CKD Galbraith, says the "Rowling Effect" has shot prices through the roof.
He said: "Since JK Rowling bought Killichassie House, the area has been brought to the attention of people by the extensive media coverage.
"Most estate agents have lengthy lists of private buyers queueing up to purchase properties. That includes interest from London, Sweden, Canada, even Gambia."
Brendan Murphy, Aberfeldy-based editor of community magazine Comment, said: "It's turned into a Cannes- type scenario where a previously unknown place is turned upmarket by the influx of celebrities and wealthy businessmen, leaving locals out in the cold.
"It's an anxious time for families who were born here and want to remain."