A recent report by GoCompare has revealed the areas in England with the most and least affordable property prices. It reveals a huge gap between the most expensive and the cheapest areas.
Buying in the Capital
It comes as no surprise that London is the most expensive place to buy property, where the average cost of a semi-detached house is £678,000. With such a large sum of money involved, it is advisable to carry out surveys to ensure your money is safely invested. A building survey in London will highlight any issues and give you peace of mind. To find out more information about arranging a building survey London, resources such as: https://www.samconveyancing.co.uk/Homebuyers-Survey/home-buyers-survey-london offer information and advice.
If you have decided on which area you would like to buy, there is a useful area comparison tool which will allow you to compare house prices, in addition to Ofsted school ratings for the area and other demographic data..
The university cities of Oxford and Cambridge come high on the list. Oxford, known as ‘The City of Dreaming Spires’ has been home to scholars and royalty for over 800 years. The average semi-detached house here will set you back over £603,000. Picturesque Cambridge is well-known for its Tudor houses and is also famous for the Mathematical Bridge, the Wren Library, punting on the river Cam and its many museums. A similar property here costs £593,000.
The seaside resort of Brighton, also known as ‘London by the sea’ became particularly popular during the pandemic. Just 50 miles south of London, here you find exotic architecture and a thriving modern culture. The city of Bristol, with its many vibrant restaurants, bars and shops, is also among the least affordable places for property. Here, a semi-detached house costs an average of £417,000.
More affordable areas
At the other end of the scale, the most affordable properties are found in the north of the country. Middlesborough in North Yorkshire is one of the cheapest areas, where a semi-detached property costs just £136,000 on average. Here, you will be less than 20 minutes from the coast or countryside, making it a great place for lovers of the outdoors.
In West Yorkshire, the city of Bradford is close to the Pennines and is a popular place for first-time buyers. You could snap up a semi here for just over £143,000. With an abundance of Victorian buildings, this is a great choice for people who appreciate period properties.
Burnley in Lancashire is a town close to beautiful countryside and is just 20 miles from the bustling city of Manchester. Here, you can buy a semi-detached house for an average of £137,000. Also in Lancashire, Preston has many affordable properties and is close to four motorways, making it ideal for commuting to other nearby cities. It also has a rich history, green open spaces and a lively shopping centre. £192,000 will buy the average semi here.
