Posted: Monday, February 26, 2018

Top 10 most affordable places for first-time buyers

Changes to stamp duty are among the main factors that allowed ‘generation rent’ to obtain mortgages and finally get a foot on the property ladder. The important question for these first-time buyers is, where are the most affordable places to buy? Here is our top 10 list across the UK.

1. Southampton, Hampshire

Those who love the south coast of England are moving further away from Brighton and into the city of Southampton. The average house price is £199,074, with a refreshing 98 per cent of properties deemed as affordable, according to Post Office Money. This beautiful and bustling seaside town is set to be one of the most popular city for first-time buyers this year.

 

2. High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire

Georgina Korrison from Seymours Land & New Homes said, “We successfully sold two developments comprising one and two-bedroom apartments in central High Wycombe in the past year. More than 70 per cent of the purchasers were first-time buyers using the Help-to-Buy scheme. High Wycombe maintains excellent rail links to London, shopping facilities as well as direct access to the A40 and Junction 4 of the M40, which is less than two miles away. Already rated highly by the Guild of Property Professionals, High Wycombe’s location on the edge of the Chilterns combined with its proximity to London makes it an affordable location for your first home. Prices in High Wycombe for a one-bedroom apartment from £200,000.”

 

3. The Meadows, Nottinghamshire

Gina Burbidge from Royston & Lund said, “The Meadows is currently proving to be a firm favourite with first-time buyers due to its close proximity to Nottingham city centre as well as the popular and affluent suburb of West Bridgford. The area’s fantastic local amenities make it is easy to see why The Meadows is one of the most up-and-coming areas in the Nottinghamshire region.”

 

 

4. Tottenham Hale, Middlesex

The approval to begin construction on Crossrail 2 has made Tottenham Hale a sought-after location for many first-time buyers. For those who are still in the process of saving, off-plan new-builds are hidden gems in many pockets of London. The investment opportunity in Tottenham Hale from Crossrail, access to the Underground’s Victoria line and national rail links ensures that the area remains an attractive hotspot. Prices start around £179,000.

 

5. North and Central Wakefield, West Yorkshire

Simon Miller from Holroyd Miller said, “North and central Wakefield provide great opportunities for the first-time buyer. Typically, a two bedroom flat is priced around £75,000, or a two-bed terraced house from around £85,000. The added benefit of these areas are the extremely close commuter links with Leeds. Leeds is the second largest financial city in the UK, with a population of three million people, making it highly desirable for growing businesses. With a direct and regular rail network, the M1, and local road access, north and central Wakefield won’t blow the budget.”

 

 

6. Norwich, Norfolk

The Post Office Money’s recent research has shown that Norwich is featured second on their list of the most affordable places to buy for first-time buyers in 2018. The average property price is £266,489, according to Zoopla Zed-Index. Norwich also offers beautiful surroundings with the coast and countryside nearby and town centre full of culture and entertainment. 

 

7. Northampton, Northamptonshire

Northampton is a stunning town with direct trains to London in under 60 minutes. The average property price is £245,000, according to Zoopla data, but you need to hurry as average property sales go under offer in just 27 days. This is 20 days quicker than the rest of the UK, which averages at 47 days. 

 

8. Doncaster, South Yorkshire

Frances Bowling from Moss Properties said, “The average semi-detached home in Doncaster sold in the past 12 months was £123,080, compared to London for £638,439, according to Zoopla as of 19 February 2018. Doncaster Train Station offers direct trains in to London kings Cross in less than 90 minutes. While stamp duty changes haven’t had a huge effect in Doncaster, the HS2 link that will be passing very closely will have a positive effect on Doncaster house prices.”

 

 

9. Liverpool, Lancashire

The average property price in Liverpool is £121,374, an increase of three per cent from last year, according to Post Office Money’s research. This lively, bustling city is perfect for first-time buyers. Its culture, music and entertainment make this one of the most popular cities in the UK. This city has its strengths in industries such as car manufacturing and engineering.

 

10. Holloway, Greater London

Steve Barron from Drivers and Norris said, “It is thought that over the next few years, Holloway will also see a larger than average increase, proportionally, in prices due to its investment into housing redevelopment. There is also a noticeable change in some of the commercial properties and businesses that are being attracted to the Holloway area, such as Jamie Oliver’s business headquarters. While not “cheap”, Holloway is still more affordable than many if its neighbouring areas.”

 

Are you looking to buy your first property? Contact your local Guild member today to find the perfect area for you. Visit us here

 
Looking to buy?

Looking to buy?

We'd love to help you on your journey home.
Don't miss out on on the latest properties by registering for our property alerts.

Register with us today

Read What Our
Customers Say

I can't speak more highly of the team at Homesearch. When I met Michael to discuss the sale of my home instantly from that meeting, I could tell how knowledgeable they were. From that moment until closing, everything went absolutely flawless. This experience of selling went without a hitch with them giving great tips on preparing my home for viewings. Thank you. I really appreciate all your help during this process. I highly recommend Homesearch to any person who is looking to sell their home or buy a new home.

Loretta Barrett, Seller

I started with two very well known real estates, but I hated it. I was simply another number to them and I didn't feel they were honest and transparent. With HomeSearch I felt comfortable that they were on my side and they were always available to help. The process is hard enough, so having a team who supports you can make such a difference. Highly recommend.

Arian Barvarz, Seller

The reason we chose Homesearch to sell our property was that we liked the straightforward, no-nonsense approach of both Anna and Michael. They gave an honest appraisal of our property and a clear idea of what we could expect to sell it for. In fact, the offer we accepted exceeded our expectations. The sale took longer than we would have liked, due to delays caused by the buyers' solicitor, but Michael was tenacious and must have worn his phone out keeping everyone informed of progress.

Nicola Watson, Seller

Homesearch are hands down the best agent I have ever worked with ! The team helped me in an extremely complex sale. Without the knowledge and experience of the whole team, my sale would not have completed. I dont normally write reviews, only when they are truly deserved. An exceptional team! Very kind and personable, reliable & trustworthy.

Leslie John, Seller

My experience with Homesearch is that they are professional, friendly and go above and beyond to ensure that something stressful like selling a house runs as smoothly and stress free as possible. They work hard to get the results and have kept me updated throughout the process. I honestly could not recommend them enough, they are easily the best company I’ve dealt with in the buying/selling houses field. And to top it all off, they always answer the phone in the most pleasant tone and always provide service with a smile.

Chanelle Hunte, Seller

Homesearch are PROFESSIONALS. I sold my property through Homesearch and I have not dealt with a more competent agency. Every single person  dealt with knew exactly what they were talking about and I can tell that they all have knowledge in the industry and were not just picked up from the street. From the get go I was impressed and I will certainly do business with them again.

Paul Hobbs, Seller

Many thanks Homesearch for locating professional corporate tenants for my property. I am very happy with your property management service as you always ensure that the tenants give the property back in good order at check out. Five Stars!

Maria Foran, Landlord

I have been absolutely delighted with the exceptional service I have received from Homesearch. They have removed all the stress & hassle of renting my property and dealt with all manner of situations I would have struggled with in such a professional & courteous manner. They give valuable unbiased advice with such a wealth of experience. Nothing is ever too much trouble for the staff, who are always friendly & helpful. Homesearch let and managed my property and I am very happy with their property management services, they are very knowledgeable.

Paula Carter, Landlord

Homesearch always do what they say they will do. They are efficient and raise any issues early and provide options to resolve them. Homesearch is very  easy to get hold of and talk to, no matter where I am in the world! My property is well looked after, regarding tradesmen, replacement of items swiftly etc. with the minimum of fuss.

David Connells, Landlord

From our first viewing right through to the present, Home Search were brilliant. They helped make the whole process quick and stress free and even now we are in and settled, they are still happy to assist us with any queries we may have. We couldn't recommend them highly enough.

Julie Maney

Home Search helped us move into our new flat smoothly and Tim was always happy to provide help to put our nerves at ease. Arranging a viewing was easy and Home Search were happy to open after hours for us to sign the paperwork. They were very helpful and often would offer to help! Having moved in we received a lovely card and they have always been swift in communicating with Usif we have any questions. Would recommend it.

Will Houghton

Michael and his team were simply amazing!! They helped us to find the perfect house, offering a nice and attentive service from the beginning through to the end. Thank you so much!! 5 stars service. Highly recommended!!!

Giordana Sicali

Very helpful and friendly staff. Tim, Michael and the team Made the whole renting experience easier.

Amol Sinare

I had a very difficult situation as I did not have a guarantor and my dad was earning enough but was not a homeowner. It took a about 3 weeks but Michael sorted it all out in the end and my dad became my guarantor. I got a lovely home and all the staff were very helpful including Paris, Zainab and Tim. Thank you all very much! Would recommend them to anyone

Misti Chakraborty

On behalf of myself, Noa & Niamh, we would like to start off by saying a massive thank you for the amazing service Home Search Ltd provided us with, especially highlighting the work of Clorissa. Within a week we were able to sign, seal and move into the property that we looked at, all down to Clorissa's prompt and effective work ethic, which allowed us a smooth transition from one property to another, without her, this move would not of been possible to have happened within the time stamp that it did. We are very grateful for the work that was done by Home Search Ltd, highly recommend.

Lewis Francis
How Much is Your Property Worth?

Expert Valuation

We always come armed with evidence and statistics of why we are pricing your property a certain way. We know the importance of getting the initial price of your property right, first time. With our extensive experience we will also explain current market conditions as we want to get our sellers the best price.

What's more, get a free gift with your free expert valuation with one of our experienced Valuer's.

Book a Valuation