PROPERTY
SPRING LAMBS AND SCHOOL CATCHMENTS
RUSSELL QUIRK , FOUNDER AND CEO OF EMOOV , SHARES HIS THOUGHTS ON SPRING / SUMMER UK PROPERTY TRENDS .
This time of year is always about the time the UK housing market starts to find its feet again - much like a newborn lamb - after the slower winter period . Generally , spring heading into summer is when the majority of people thinking about selling will start to act .
One breed of buyer that is particularly active during early spring , in line with nature itself , are those that are planning not only for their future , but the future of their offspring too . We always tend to have a spike in the number of three- to four-bed property sales around this time , and it is a trend that returns each year .
So , why this particular type of property ? The obvious answer is that those looking to buy are also looking to upscale . It ’ s proven that moving house is an action triggered by a number of life stages and the transition from one life stage to the next .
But , it isn ’ t just the extra bedroom that buyers are looking for as their family grows , it is also the move to a more suitable location and the largest factor influencing this trend is education . Obviously , we all want our children to have the best start in life and , especially in this day and age , a vital part of this can be
the education they receive . Although the new school year seems a long way off , especially for those slogging their way through the current one , buyers looking to take advantage of a catchment area by purchasing a property in it really need to start acting now .
Selling or buying a house is a laborious process in itself , let alone the added ordeal of getting your child or children into school , so getting a jump on it in the late spring can ensure you have moved house in good time to qualify for the coming school year .
MOVING FROM THE INSIDE OUT
Another trend that the UK market is currently in the midst of is the migration of buyers from inner city areas to the outskirts and beyond in order to find a more affordable property .
Our research , for example , has found that the inner London boroughs are on their knees at the moment in terms of demand for housing . This is a direct consequence of continuously increasing and therefore unaffordable property prices . As prices increase , demand always tends to drop off , and once it hits rock bottom sellers have no option but to lower their asking prices . Thus , the cycle tends to start again .
There has been a real boom in aspiring homeowners moving to London ’ s surrounding commuter belt , however . The likes of Brentwood in Essex , Guildford in Surrey , and even as far as Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire , or Ipswich in Suffolk have all seen demand ( and prices ) rocket of late .
Yes , you may sacrifice an extra hour commuting each day , but you increase your property potential markedly , pay a fraction of the price you would in the London market , and usually increase your quality of life in the process .
Although prices are cheaper in major cities outside of London , the same trend can be found in Leeds , Manchester , Cardiff , and up in Edinburgh . The UK buyer no longer wants to pay over the odds for a small city property with views of a congested skyline . They want a garden to spend their weekends in , more appealing surroundings and a more intimate local community .
eMoov offers a full estate agency service for just £ 595 , with no hidden fees . See their website for more information - www . emoov . co . uk .
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