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The South East

The country’s capital, London, is an obvious drawcard – even if urban living is not your thing, proximity to this most diverse of cities means that theatres, cultural and historical attractions, plus some of Europe’s best restaurants are all within easy reach. The Home Counties, those surrounding the capital, have all of the benefits of being within easy reach of London but boast a more countryside setting, meaning that you can have the best of both worlds – city salaries and quality of life – providing, of course that you are prepared to do the commute.

There’s also the appeal of the south coast, with lovely scenery and ferry crossings to the continent. Of course, road and rail links connecting you to the rest of the country are good, and the region is home to the UK’s biggest airports, offering flights to every conceivable location. Climate-wise, the south of the country is, naturally enough, warmer than the chillier north, although rainfall tends to be higher.

Types of property

Period properties abound and are greatly sought after – from the less common but highly desirable and hugely pricey Georgian, to the easier to come by Victorian and Edwardian styles. There’s also plenty of post-war housing, most of it fairly unattractive and tending to be at the lower end of the pricing scale for the region. Large family homes are the norm in the Home Counties, usually featuring off-street parking and large front and back gardens, although there are plenty of smaller character cottages as well.

You won’t get much change out of £100,000, if this is your budget – and nor will you get much property, neither in terms of choice nor size. Think studio or one bedroom, often in a purpose-built block. Location-wise, you’re more likely to find yourself in Slough than in Surrey, although Southampton, with its coastal setting, is also affordable in this bracket.

Up the stakes to £250,000, and you’ll be able to purchase a converted maisonette in trendy Brighton or a semi or terrace house in Kent. There are a few options in Surrey, but in this price range, they’ll tend to be apartments, and small ones at that. Hertfordshire, despite being at the upper end of South East property, is also accessible on this budget, with upwards of three bedrooms and similar properties to those available in Kent.

Half a million will buy you a lovely home in the Home Counties: good sized family homes in Surrey and West Sussex are both achievable with this kind of budget. And with a million to spend, you’ll be rewarded with an idyllic setting, large grounds, multiple bedrooms and no end of period features.

Investment potential

Because demographic trends indicate that the population in the South East will continue to increase, you can be fairly sure that housing will always stay on the right side of the supply and demand equation. With increases of over 16 per cent in the South East in the last year (and of nearly 25 per cent in Greater London alone) even if the market slows down somewhat, investors can still expect healthy returns. The rental market is strong too, but, because property prices are so high, rental yields tend to be slightly lower than in other parts of the country – at around 5.7 per cent, rather than the six or so that is the UK’s average.

Popular buying locations

Surrey, with its large family homes, genteel atmosphere, and mixture of traditional chocolate box English villages with larger town centres, is prime greenbelt commuter land, and as such, hugely popular. You’ll pay for the privilege of living here though – the average house price is in excess of £440,000 and the region’s most expensive street, Portnall Rise, in the GU25 postcode area, is also located here. The average property price? A cool £3,446,220.

Essex represents a more affordable option for buyers looking for proximity to London without the steep prices that come with the posh postcode: average prices here, at just under £255,000, are almost £200,000 cheaper than their Surrey counterparts. Good transport links into Liverpool Street station make it a popular choice for those working in the City – and, of course, Stansted airport, with its choice of low-cost flights, is in the vicinity, which is appealing for some.

Buckinghamshire is also highly desirable, though scarcely less pricey than Surrey. Again, ease of access to the City plays a role, but the region is also home to some lovely villages and well-regarded schools.

Up-and-coming areas

Brighton continues to grow in popularity, not least because of its coastal setting and mix of shopping and leisure options: the average asking price for property here currently stands at just over £307,000 and increases have been in the region of 12 per cent in the last year. Just an hour by train to London, Brighton has a vibrant gay community and attracts a broad range of buyers, from those seeking a more village-y atmosphere without the seclusion that often comes with living in a village, to those driven by a passion for various watersports, to a thriving art community.

Oxfordshire hardly qualifies as “up and coming” due to its costly property but, nevertheless, the area has seen recent substantial growth, with reported annual increases in the region of 13.5 per cent and an average property price of nearly £316,000. Again, ease of access to London is a factor in this, but the region has plenty of its own appeal: as well as historically significant attractions like the University, there’s an upmarket shopping and eating scene, plus gorgeous rural surroundings and large, lovely family homes.

Kent is also an area to watch, since it represents an affordable option for growing families priced out of London as they seek larger properties. It features some lovely coastal towns and good beaches and, while growth here has been in the comparatively modern region of 8.5 percent in the last year, average prices are a healthy but relatively affordable £225,000.

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