You should be able to pick up a bargain just a few miles from property hotspots, as Fred Redwood discovers
Summer is just around the corner, the time when those with a second home or a retirement property in mind are found scanning Rightmove and Zoopla for the country’s beauty spots. But what do they do if the homes in their favourite region are prohibitively expensive?
A curious feature of the country’s fractured property market is that the rippling eddies of high prices will often flatten out a few miles away from the epicentre of a hotspot. Call these “necklace settlements” if you prefer estate agent speak. We’ve found some of the best options for each region.
West Pembrokeshire
With its famous multi-coloured, tall Georgian houses overlooking the harbour, Tenby is the flagship town of Pembrokeshire, and its property prices are high for South Wales. Today you will find a two bedroom modern apartment overlooking South Beach on the market for £525,000.
Yet a 20 minute drive inland brings you to Narberth, a gem of a town which until about 25 years ago was dying on its feet. Then some councillors had the bright idea of reducing the rates for shopkeepers to rock bottom, and things took off. Today you’ll find Ultracomida, a fabulous bistro and deli, antiques centres, art shops, boutiques and a top hotel, The Grove. The average price for a detached house is just £237,00, according to Rightmove, compared to £335,000 for the same in Tenby.
If only the coast will do, then Saundersfoot, the next bay along from Tenby, has a buzzing local community and is less dependent on tourism for year round joie de vivre. The famous Boxing Day splash is a highlight of the year. “I am seeing a lot of people moving here from Cornwall and Devon”, says Carol Peett of West Wales Property Finders. “It’s better value than southwest England and in all but two of the streets, Saundersfoot is less pricey than Tenby”. http://www.westwalespropertyfinders.co.uk
The Daily Telegraph – Saturday, 12th May 2018 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/buy/buy-holiday-home-near-uks-property-hotspots-less/
