Thousands of people move to London every year, drawn by its career opportunities, rich culture and social life, but it comes at a cost, and this is where commuter towns come into their own.
Living outside the capital can give you the best of both worlds – the chance to experience the city and everything it has to offer, while saving money and therefore being able to afford a better quality of life than you’d have living in the centre.
When it comes to commuter town options, there are literally hundreds, and their popularity is changing all the time based on things like current and future investment projects, as well as house price changes and train route upgrades.
Another outcome of improving train lines is that more options are opened up even further afield which a decade ago might not have even been considered by many commuters.
Reading’s popularity is growing
Reading is one town that has begun to fall within more people’s radars, continually being cited as one of the top places to commute from London. An upmarket suburb famed for its top university as well as its thriving technology sector, its appeal lies not only in its affordability compared to the capital but also in its future prospects – particularly as it’s about to benefit from the new Crossrail line opening later this year.
With the promise of improved infrastructure, investment within Reading has grown, along with the expansion of the town’s technology industry as a number of multinational firms are now based there, and this has brought with it a new calibre of resident. Rental prices in Reading tend to be higher than the national average at around £1,150 a month, but there is huge demand for rental properties among the town’s young professionals.
The statistics
In a recent study by Totally Money listing 115 popular spots within reach of London, Reading came in at number 31, scoring particularly well in its affordability with average house prices there recorded as £360,728 – a pinch compared to the London average £654,925 according to Zoopla.
It also came in cheaper than Totally Money’s number one place to commute, Cheshunt, where prices are listed as £384,248. The slightly lower prices in Reading mean it’s attracting property investors who are looking to benefit from future house price inflation as well as the town’s strong rental market.
Reading is a great place for property investment right now – read this article for 7 reasons why.
