Latest news with #GarringtonPropertyFinders
Times
10-05-2025
- Business
- Times
Priced out of your dream location? Try these cheaper areas nearby
Buyers priced out of prestigious cities, towns, suburbs and villages are heading to the next-best version nearby, turning the idea of 'location, location, location' on its head. Jonathan Hopper, the chief executive of the search company Garrington Property Finders, calls the phenomenon 'halo postcodes'. 'We always had the mantra, 'location, location, location', but that is changing now,' he says. 'It's a post-pandemic trend that became a perfect storm, with house prices rising rapidly and then, with Liz Truss, mortgage rates rising rapidly. 'Buyers face three variables. One is the price, one is the property itself and the third is the location. Affordability is becoming constrained. A lot of buyers can't stretch any further financially — they need a certain kind of property, so it's location
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lewisham rated one of the best in England's boroughs for culture and heritage
Lewisham has been rated among the top 30 boroughs in the UK for its culture and heritage according to a new report. Lewisham has emerged as one of the top-performing boroughs in south east London for education, employment and connectivity, according to a new national ranking by property buying agents Garrington Property Finders. Overall, Lewisham was placed at 286th position across all of the boroughs in England and Wales, marking it as third place in south east London after Bromley and Southwark. One of the areas that Lewisham performed best in was its culture and heritage, coming in at number 30, making it the second best performing borough in south east London, following Southwark, which was placed in 11th position. One of the areas that Lewisham performed best in was its culture and heritage. (Image: Roswitha Chesher) Lewisham has a number of good links to central London by DLR, Overground, bus and National Rail, along with the recent addition of the SL4 Superloop bus connecting parts of Lewisham with the London Underground via Canary Wharf. While Lewisham didn't top the charts among its neighbouring boroughs, its 83rd-place ranking puts it within a competitive range and highlights the borough's appeal to families and professionals seeking access to strong schooling options, job opportunities and efficient transport links. In comparison, Bromley led the way in this category, coming in at 29th, followed by Southwark (53), Greenwich (55), and Bexley (59). The borough appeals to families and professionals seeking access to strong schooling options, job opportunities and efficient transport links. (Image: Forest Hill School) Though Lewisham was ranked fifth in south east London for education, employment and connectivity, its placement at number 83, earning it a spot in the top 100 nationwide, still marks it as a standout performer in this area. However, it didn't perform quite as well in areas such as Wellbeing (1435) and Value for Money (806), with an average family home price of £880,236 and a slight year-on-year decrease in price (-1.28 per cent), More broadly, Lewisham's overall ranking of 286 places it in the middle of the south east London pack, just behind Southwark (276) and ahead of Greenwich (402) and Bexley (783). Lewisham's overall ranking of 286 places it in the middle of the south east London pack. (Image: Lewisham Council) Here's the full list of Lewisham's rankings: Overall rank: 286 out of 1447 Natural Environment: 490 Wellbeing: 1435 Heritage / Culture: 30 Schools, Employment and Connectivity: 83 House Price Quality and Value: 806 Average price of family home: £880,236 Average sales price change in last 12 months: -1.28%
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
The 'family-friendly' Essex town named one of the country's best places to live
A town in Essex has been crowned one of the best places to live in the country. The Daily Mail has shared the report by Garrington Property Finders, highlighting the top 21 places to live across England and Wales. The annual report ranks 1,447 cities, towns and large villages of 5,000-plus residents. It uses five criteria to help with the ranking, these being: Natural beauty Wellbeing Heritage Schools and jobs Value for money The top 21 places to live revealed - and third place features houses for just £150,000: How does YOUR home rank among 1,500 cities, towns and villages in England and Wales? — Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) April 7, 2025 The Mail notes how locations with a higher average property price perform better on Garrington's report. For the full story, head to the Daily Mail website. One place in Essex made the list, and that was Chigwell, and it even broke the top 10, ranking as the ninth best place to live. It was described as an "attractive choice for those seeking a family-friendly environment with access to excellent schools, parks and central London". Chigwell gained the most marks for house price quality and value, as well as natural environment. The list reads: "Falling within London's commuter belt, it benefits from good transport links with a Central Line tube station stopping at Bank and Tottenham Court Road. "One of the quaintest corners is Chigwell Village where you'll find plenty of period properties, shops, restaurants and green spaces." Visit Epping Forest notes Charles Dickens' depiction of Chigwell, describing it as "the greatest place in the world". Recommended reading: Why these three south Essex areas are among the best places to live in UK This south Essex village with a windmill is one of the best places to live in 2025 Essex town with 'rich culture' crowned the best place to live in the UK for 2025 It adds that the town boasts "elegant Georgian houses, pretty weather-boarded cottages, 12th-century St Mary Church, complete with an intact Norman doorway, and Chigwell School". The website also recommends combining a visit to Chigwell with nearby Buckhurst Hill. The nearby spot was a filming location for The Only Way is Essex.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Best places to live in England and Wales revealed
Redbourn, a picturesque village in Hertfordshire located less than 30 miles from central London, has been named the best place to live in 2025 across England and Wales. The village topped a ranking of over 1,400 communities across England and Wales, compiled by Garrington Property Finders. Redbourn excelled in multiple categories, securing 11th place in natural beauty and performing well in heritage, schools, and jobs. Its attractive rural location, combined with a rich history dating back to Roman times and its status as the site of one of the first-ever cricket matches in 1666, contributed to its top ranking. The village commands an average family home price of £767,501, which, although above the national average, has seen an 8.2% dip over the past year. Read more: UK house prices stall in March ahead of stamp duty hike Epsom, a Surrey spa town known for its horse racing heritage, is in second place on the list. Its ranking is supported by highly rated schools and lucrative job opportunities in the area. A typical home in Epsom costs £790,983, a 2.5% decline in prices compared to the previous year. The seaside village of Whitburn comes in at number three. It scored high for natural beauty and well-being. Known for its sandy beaches, nature plays a role in the village's appeal, as its coastal park boasts rare birds, while seals and dolphins can be spotted frolicking out at sea. The price of a typical family home in Whitburn fell by 1.6% to £328,699 at the end of last year. By contrast, the average property price in North East England rose by 6.7% in 2024. Hot on the heels of third-placed is Marple in Greater Manchester. The town is within easy reach of the big city — it boasts two train stations and is just 10 miles from central Manchester — but offers a gentler pace of life with a rural location and canalside walks, along with a farmer's market, theatre and independent cinema. A house here will set you back £496,289. Official data from the Land Registry shows property prices in England rose by 4.8% and in Wales by 6% in the 12 months to January 2025. However, regional variations are notable. While London saw a modest price increase of 2.3%, North East England experienced a surge of 9.1%, and the North West saw a 6.8% rise. Several locations bucked these trends and performed strongly in the value-for-money category. For instance, Alnwick in Northumberland, a cobbled market town with a castle that starred as Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films, ranked at number six, boasts a typical family home price of just £327,246. In contrast, Whitnash in Warwickshire, ranked 16th, offers homes for £536,692 — both lower than their regional averages. Read more: Mortgage rates to stay higher for longer amid high inflation The highest-ranked Welsh location was Penarth, a seaside town just three miles from Cardiff. With its Art Deco pavilion and pebble beach, Penarth secured 31st place overall. The town excelled in value for money, ranking second in this category with an average property price of £502,497, following a 5.1% price dip. The most expensive location in the top 20 is St Albans, the cathedral city in Hertfordshire, which came in at number five. Known for its history and schools, St Albans saw the average price for a family home rise by 0.2%, reaching £974,657. Jonathan Hopper, CEO of Garrington Property Finders, said: 'With mortgage interest rates forecast to come down gradually during 2025, many would-be buyers and movers are likely to progress their plans in coming months, keen to capitalise on the combination of lower borrowing costs and a highly competitive market in which buyers often hold the cards when it comes to negotiating the best price. 'Our team of experts across England and Wales is already seeing a surge in interest from buyers who've decided to kickstart their previously paused moving plans in 2025." Read more: 10 home upgrades that don't need planning permission What are green mortgages and are they the future? How rising house prices can impact your financesSign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Best places to live in England and Wales revealed
Redbourn, a picturesque village in Hertfordshire located less than 30 miles from central London, has been named the best place to live in 2025 across England and Wales. The village topped a ranking of over 1,400 communities across England and Wales, compiled by Garrington Property Finders. Redbourn excelled in multiple categories, securing 11th place in natural beauty and performing well in heritage, schools, and jobs. Its attractive rural location, combined with a rich history dating back to Roman times and its status as the site of one of the first-ever cricket matches in 1666, contributed to its top ranking. The village commands an average family home price of £767,501, which, although above the national average, has seen an 8.2% dip over the past year. Read more: UK house prices stall in March ahead of stamp duty hike Epsom, a Surrey spa town known for its horse racing heritage, is in second place on the list. Its ranking is supported by highly rated schools and lucrative job opportunities in the area. A typical home in Epsom costs £790,983, a 2.5% decline in prices compared to the previous year. The seaside village of Whitburn comes in at number three. It scored high for natural beauty and well-being. Known for its sandy beaches, nature plays a role in the village's appeal, as its coastal park boasts rare birds, while seals and dolphins can be spotted frolicking out at sea. The price of a typical family home in Whitburn fell by 1.6% to £328,699 at the end of last year. By contrast, the average property price in North East England rose by 6.7% in 2024. Hot on the heels of third-placed is Marple in Greater Manchester. The town is within easy reach of the big city — it boasts two train stations and is just 10 miles from central Manchester — but offers a gentler pace of life with a rural location and canalside walks, along with a farmer's market, theatre and independent cinema. A house here will set you back £496,289. Official data from the Land Registry shows property prices in England rose by 4.8% and in Wales by 6% in the 12 months to January 2025. However, regional variations are notable. While London saw a modest price increase of 2.3%, North East England experienced a surge of 9.1%, and the North West saw a 6.8% rise. Several locations bucked these trends and performed strongly in the value-for-money category. For instance, Alnwick in Northumberland, a cobbled market town with a castle that starred as Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films, ranked at number six, boasts a typical family home price of just £327,246. In contrast, Whitnash in Warwickshire, ranked 16th, offers homes for £536,692 — both lower than their regional averages. Read more: Mortgage rates to stay higher for longer amid high inflation The highest-ranked Welsh location was Penarth, a seaside town just three miles from Cardiff. With its Art Deco pavilion and pebble beach, Penarth secured 31st place overall. The town excelled in value for money, ranking second in this category with an average property price of £502,497, following a 5.1% price dip. The most expensive location in the top 20 is St Albans, the cathedral city in Hertfordshire, which came in at number five. Known for its history and schools, St Albans saw the average price for a family home rise by 0.2%, reaching £974,657. Jonathan Hopper, CEO of Garrington Property Finders, said: 'With mortgage interest rates forecast to come down gradually during 2025, many would-be buyers and movers are likely to progress their plans in coming months, keen to capitalise on the combination of lower borrowing costs and a highly competitive market in which buyers often hold the cards when it comes to negotiating the best price. 'Our team of experts across England and Wales is already seeing a surge in interest from buyers who've decided to kickstart their previously paused moving plans in 2025." Read more: 10 home upgrades that don't need planning permission What are green mortgages and are they the future? How rising house prices can impact your finances
