Student accommodation is in short supply in Glasgow and as a result many parents have opted to invest in property as opposed to paying rent (an average of £750 per month) for the duration.

With only weeks to go until the start of the autumn term, Cruden Homes’ West 11 development on Dumbarton Road, just five minutes walk from the University of Glasgow, could be a timely investment opportunity in an area long known to be a niche market that generally remains buoyant regardless of property trends elsewhere.

Only five apartments remain in this popular new build development, all with flooring, integrated stainless steel appliances (fridge-freezer, dishwasher, oven, hob hood and washer-dryer), heated towel rails in bathrooms, and secure video entry.

Prices for these last few apartments start from £170,000 and the sales office is open at weekends from 11am to 5pm (viewings also by arrangement).

For details call 07818 596 693 or visit www.cruden-ltd.co.uk.

In its heyday, the Ewington Hotel on Balmoral Terrace, directly opposite Queen’s Park, Glasgow, was a well-known landmark in the south side of the city (always very elegant and regal-looking in an understated way, I recall).

Now the former B-listed Victorian townhouse hotel is being restored in a development that will comprise 12 two, three and four-bedroom apartments over four floors, including a number of garden apartments, the first of which is now ready.

Balmoral Terrace is part of Queen’s Drive, an elongated terrace that epitomises townhouse buildings of the Victorian era – and these sympathetically restored apartments are at the exceptional end of the scale.

In addition to seamlessly merging modern facilities such as security entry, en-suite facilities, new sash-and-case windows and hi-spec dining kitchens and bathrooms with traditional period features, these apartments are unexpectedly large in terms of layouts and room proportions.

The three apartments in the current phase all have four bedrooms and are priced from £259,000, while the garden apartments have three or four bedrooms and start at £243,000. There is also a three-bedroom, main-door apartment available at a fixed price of £275,000, which includes extras such as hardwood flooring and a period-style limestone fireplace.

Reasons to buy include a great location adjacent to Queen’s Park (dedicated to the memory of Mary, Queen of Scots, and not, as is commonly thought, Queen Victoria, the park is on the site of the 16th-century Battle of Langside), fine transport links, shops, schools and restaurants. Balmoral Terrace is marketed by Corum’s Shawlands office – 0141 636 7588/www.corumproperty.co.uk.

Occasionally it happens that a showhouse is so desirable it gets snapped up at the beginning of a development, instead of nearer the end. That was the case at Woodhall Mill Brae, Strawberry Scotland’s niche development of just 10 three, four and five-bedroom townhouses in the conservation village of Juniper Green in Edinburgh.

Clearly the combination of scenic suburban setting with access to the Water of Leith, good local amenities and property styles with character as well as contemporary features was too good to resist in the case of the four-bedroom showhouse, which was among the first to be sold.

The company has now provided another, a three-storey townhouse that illustrates why design excellence underpins the popularity of this development.

With wood flooring throughout, the layout includes an open-plan kitchen/dining/living area on the first floor with French doors opening on to a wooden deck and turfed garden, utility room, large cloakroom, four good-sized bedrooms (one with en-suite facilities) and family bathroom.

Traditional gables and differing roof levels form a link with the original village architecture, while the white render finish, weatherboarding and red roof tiles also add character as well as a traditional appearance.

All the houses are on three levels apart from one two-storey style and the new show house is open Friday to Monday from 11am to 5pm.

Contact Savills for further information on 0131 247 3700/www.savills.co.uk.

Conversion developments often cater for those who prefer traditional property styles and those whose tastes veer more towards new build, which can makes them an ideal solution to an age-old dilemma.

A development that ticks both boxes is Rawes Farm Steading next to the village of Longforgan – near Gleneagles – where Perthshire-based Hadden Homes has a range of refurbished conversions and newly built courtyard homes and detached villas.

Rural but not remote – seven miles from Dundee and 15 miles from Perth, with a post office, shops, pub and primary school – there are 14 properties in total, with three, four and five-bedroom styles reflecting high-spec interiors and finish within a traditional farm setting surrounded by beautiful countryside.

An open weekend to be held at the development on September 3rd and 4th from 10am to 4pm will highlight a selection of three and four-bedroom properties within the converted courtyard steading, and newly luxury detached country houses, all available now, with prices starting from £239,000.

For more details contact Your Move Dundee on 01382 224333/ www.rawesfarmsteading.com.