Although the twin horrors of soaring inflation and volatile interest rates seem to be slowly in retreat, buying a property in 2024 could still prove to be challenging for the pocket. So, not unreasonably, pound for pound, we want to know whether we’re getting anything like value for money before we decide to make a move. Yet the notion of what constitutes bang for your buck is difficult to compute.
‘There are 30 million homes spread across thousands of housing markets, which means value for money can vary wildly depending on where you are in the country’, says Daniel Copley, consumer expert at Zoopla. ‘Property prices will also be impacted by their proximity to local schools, train stations and transport links’.
With this in mind, how far can you make your money go? To find out, we took a whistle-stop tour of markets around the country to see what you can get for the average UK house price of £264,400.
NEFYN, NORTH WALES
The average price for a property in North Wales is £232,692 according to Right Move. And even given the long stretches of coast, rolling fields and decent connection to the motorway network, you can still find a lovely home for your money – not least in Nefyn, a tranquil seaside village scattered around an elegant crescent shaped sandy beach. What impacts value for money is that where there’s a coastline there are people who want to take a break.
‘The Llyn peninsula is classified as an area of outstanding beauty with wonderful sandy beaches and is an extremely popular holiday destination,’ says Carol Peett, owner of West Wales Property Finders.
This means properties are often snapped up for investment. Still, you can get a spaciously cosy corner well within our set limit
FOR SALE: £255,000
A comfy two-bedroom detached bungalow on a residential development in the heart of Nefyn. Nature abounds as the house is only a short walk from a sandy beach and coastal path while the rear decked garden looks out over rolling countryside and sweeping mountain views (to be enjoyed from a spacious conservatory if the weather isn`t kind). Both bedrooms are double, as is the garage. The sense of space is enhanced by a living room with dual-aspect windows And for those cosy nights in there’s a featured fireplace.
zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/66694022
FORRES, INVERNESS
With its classic castle, parks and gardens, Forres on the Moray coast is one of Scotland’s oldest towns. Located 27 miles northeast of the highland capital, Inverness, this is a place which takes looking good seriously – Forres has won several Britain in Bloom and Scotland in Bloom competitions for its beautiful floral displays. Karine MacRae Simpson of Tailormade Moves believes Inverness has always attracted buyers from other bigger cities looking for a better standard of living in a less populated area. According to Rightmove, Properties in Forres had an overall average price of £212,763 over the last year.
FOR SALE £255,000
A capacious and well looked after three-bedroom family home which delivers serious bang for your buck. An open-plan kitchen fans out into a dining area and sun room with double doors that lead out onto the patio and garden area. As well as a family bathroom there’s a separate downstairs WC. And in keeping with the needs of a family, there’s a separate utility room to deal with piles of washing.
zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/66420832
KINGS HEATH, BIRMINGHAM
The latest research by estate agent comparison site getagent.co.uk reveals the West Midlands has been the best performing housing market since the Bank of England started to raise interest rates, based on seasonally adjusted rates of house price growth. Kings Heath, in the south of the city, bristles with independent shops and bars as well as high street shops and there’s a farmers’ market on the first Saturday of every month. The locals still refer to it as a ‘village’ even though it has been part of the city of Birmingham since Victorian times Kings Heath Park covers around 35 acres and was the first urban park in Birmingham to achieve Green Flag status.
FOR SALE £260,000
A neat modern semi, the house is set back from the road so no scope for nosy passers-by peering in (you approach the front door via a driveway or pathway). The house has three good sized bedrooms and an open plan dining kitchen. The main bathroom has a roll-top bath and separate shower and there’s also a separate WC downstairs. The back garden is on the small side, but there’s good use of space, with a small paved seating area with steps up to a lawn area and further steps to the bark-chipped area.
zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/64271301/
THE WIRRAL, MERSEYSIDE
Wedged between the River Dee to the west and the River Mersey to the east, the Wirral peninsula overlooks both the Welsh hills and the iconic Liverpool skyline. Here you’ll find a network of genteel seaside locations including the historic market town of Neston. Average house prices for the Wirral are around £212,000.
Nature lovers can enjoy some bird watching across the salt marshes or walking across the sands to spot seals at Hilbre Island. Yet a half-hour train offers an easy connection to Liverpool.
FOR SALE £269,950
Though there’s no doubt this property needs a little updating, the potential is huge, not least because of its location: this four-bedroom semi is only a short distance from Neston market town (home to lots of shops and amenities) and Parkgate with its sweeping views of Wales.
There’s a good-sized lounge with a fireplace, a ground floor WC and an upstairs shower room and separate WC – always beneficial to prevent queues!
Three bedrooms are on the first floor while an open tread turned staircase leads to another bedroom – perfect for the sullen teenager in your life. The back garden is sunny, pretty and private – surrounded by lots of trees.
zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/65297414/
POOLE, DORSET
With its busy quayside, clean beaches and historic old town centre, Poole is a popular place to live – little wonder house prices average £434,403.
‘Poole is only two hours from London and minutes from the award-winning Blue Flag beaches which stretch from Sandbanks to Bournemouth. It offers locals the best of both worlds,’ says Neil Roff of estate agent Winkworth.
Also pushing up the price is the fact that this part of the country is a magnet for second home owners, thanks to the two- hour train ride from London.
FOR SALE £255,000
A recently built two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment on the ground floor, complete with a new luxury kitchen. Given the weather is always better in this part of the world, the flat enjoys the sun-trap of a large southerly facing terrace.
And if that weren’t enough, a dual aspect living room also offers scope for maximising the sunshine.
Both bedrooms are double – one with an ensuite shower room.
The avid cyclist will enjoy the fact the flat comes with a bike store.
And it’s all perfectly placed for sun, sea and shopping since it’s only a few minute walk from Poole Harbour and the town’s historic quay.
zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/65732413/
NORTHUMBERLAND
Living in Northumberland in the North East offers all the tranquil benefits of a rural location yet it’s only a ten-mile journey to Newcastle. So it’s possible to enjoy forests and wild unspoilt countryside while still having an easy commute to city life.
Affordable housing and a rural setting mean there’s a low crime rate and a strong sense of community.
Average house prices are around £206.233.
FOR SALE £260,000
A modern three-storey, four-bedroom home which really offers pound-for-pound value – because there’s simply so much space. An open-plan kitchen/dining room with French doors leads into the garden. There’s also a handy utility room, a front-aspect living room, plus under-stairs storage and a downstairs WC. Two of the three bathrooms are ensuite and there’s a nicely spacious garden complete with patio seated area.
Given the fact this house sits on the glorious Northumberland coast, all of this makes this property an absolute steal.
zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/66691868
SOUTH WEST LONDON
There may be some green spaces and plenty of opportunities for retail therapy. But average house prices in this part of the capital are a whopping £1million.
‘South West London has long appealed to young professionals, but as prices continue to rise in neighbourhoods such as Battersea and Clapham, Wandsworth is fast overtaking as one of the most in-demand SW postcodes,’ says Yolanda Jacob, sales and marketing director at Barratt East London.
‘Millennials are drawn to this pocket of London thanks to its rich culture and vibrant art scene without compromising on connectivity and access to much-coveted green spaces.’
Nice, if you can afford it.
FOR SALE £255,000
There’s not a great deal to show for your money in this part of the capital. This is perhaps best illustrated by this one-bed period flat in Lavender Hill – which comes with the caveat that ‘the property requires refurbishment and upgrading’ (hard to miss since the only signs of previous habitation are a pair of curtains and a couple of lampshades). The flat consists of a reception room, kitchen, wet room – that is, no bath or shower – and a bedroom. All of them need extensive decorating. A lot of money for a significant project.
zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/66674284
WEST SUSSEX
As well as holding a 29-year record with the Met Office for being the sunniest county in the country, West Sussex also offers plenty of countryside, coastline and national parks. This all means there’s a pretty buoyant market.
‘Demand is outweighing supply across West Sussex, but particularly in the highly sought-after villages of the South Downs National Park, where good family homes are like gold dust and house prices are holding very firm. Many properties are never hitting the open market, instead being acquired off-market by buying agents,’ says Jennie Hancock, founder and director of West Sussex buying agency Property Acquisitions. All of which means money is swiftly changing hands for properties in need of radical improvement!
FOR SALE £260,000
This two-bedroom, ground-floor apartment is part of the Berkeley Homes greenfield development, which was built 23 years ago in the heart of the village of Middleton-on-Sea. The larger of the two bedrooms has an ensuite shower room. For those who like sharing, there’s a patio area (cheek by jowl with the neighbours’) and communal garden space off the sitting room and principal bedroom. There is also allocated parking and visitor parking.
zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/66146985
