insideKENT Magazine Issue 34 - January 2015 | Page 141

PROPERTY

Kent Property Market
BY MICHAEL BRUCE, CEO OF PURPLEBRICKS.COM, THE UK'S FIRST 24/7 ESTATE AGENT

Kent is fast becoming one of the most popular and desirable areas for young families looking
to settle. The Garden of England offers strong transport links to London and in just two
hours, you can be in France. Living in Kent also means that while you're surrounded by
beautiful countryside, you are never more than an hour away from the seaside, so residents
can enjoy the best of both worlds.

Michael Bruce

The Property Market
The property market in Kent is strong, with an
increasing demand for properties under £200,000.
There is a growing demand for terraced houses
in the city centre's, and for the ever-popular
seaside properties and bungalows. When it
comes to well-performing areas, Thanet, Dover,
and Dartford are all worthy of a look for anyone
moving to the area or seeking out investment
properties. Kent is also experiencing a strong
demand for newly converted property, which
offers homeowners a chance of living in an older
building, but with modern living.
Must Buy Areas
There are several up-and-coming coastal areas
in Kent that could prove lucrative investments.
Homes in Margate, Ramsgate, and Herne Bay
are reasonably priced and have potential to
increase in value over the next few years.
There is no exact formula to identifying a mustbuy area, but there are several key points to bear
in mind.
A good sign of an up-and-coming area is a high
street that is starting to show signs of
regeneration. Look for independent shops and
more niche food shops like delicatessens that
are taking advantage of lower rents; these will
appeal to a certain market and add to the feel of
an area.

A high proportion of people in their 20s and 30s
can also point to an area that is on the rise,
whereby more disposable income is spent and
more money is invested in the community as a
result.

Whatever agent you decide to go with, make
sure you do your research and know exactly
what it offers and what you will get for its fee.

Look for secondary schools that have turned
their success around and started to achieve good
Ofsted repo 'G2