Buying Property in the Home Counties

The great North/South divide in England is seen through the economic and cultural differences between the two regions. While some differences can be definitively proved through research, others consist mainly of stereotypes and presumptions. When it comes to property, market values throughout the past confirm that the south tends to have higher priced homes for sale.

Today the property analytics company, Hometrack, announced that UK property prices increased by 0.2% this month. Upon further inspection they found that this rise was driven by price increases in London and other southern regions, more specifically the Home Counties. With such increasingly expensive properties being located here, residents and landlords with properties in the area will need to ensure they protect their large investment with landlord insurance.

Regions of the Home Counties

Throughout the decades the definitive list of the regions included in the Home Counties has slightly varied. Today the following counties are fully considered part of the group: Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Surrey and Sussex (East and West).

Using data from Rightmove.com, we’re going to look at the average prices from 2011 which roughly signal what you would need to pay in order to make one of these counties your home. However depending on the type of property you are looking for and specific area in which it’s located, these guide prices may be a lot lower or higher than the values of properties you actually require.

Bedfordshire

Best Selling Property: Semi-detached (£190,896)
Others: Terraced (£157,278), Detached (£317,210)
Most Expensive Area: Flitton (£504,643)
Cheapest Area: Houghton Regis (£147,912)

Berkshire

Best Selling Property: Terraced (£220,848)
Others: Semi-detached (£273,396), Detached (£474,046)
Most Expensive Area: Cookham Dean (£1,153,626)
Cheapest Area: Colnbrook (£172,017)

Buckinghamshire

Best Selling Property: Detached (£479,857)
Others: Semi-detached (£254,380), Terraced (£206,441)
Most Expensive Area: Seer Green (£829,556)
Cheapest Area: (£147,673)

Essex

Best Selling Property: Semi-detached (£233,708)
Others: Terraced (£198,607), Detached (£358,995)
Most Expensive Area: Langham (£801,700)
Cheapest Area: Jaywick (£91,268)

Hampshire

Best Selling Property: Terraced (£186,671)
Others: Semi-detached (£229,723), Detached (£385,406)
Most Expensive Area: Dummer (£1,212,500)
Cheapest Area: North End (£137,814)

Hertfordshire

Best Selling Property: Terrace (£242,268)
Others: Semi-detached (£324,165), Flats (£181,411)
Most Expensive Area: Little Gaddesden (£937,500)
Cheapest Area: Stevenage (£193,592)

Kent

Best Selling Property: Terraced (£192,333)
Others: Semi-detached (£237,270), Detached (£399,446)
Most Expensive Area: Penshurst (£747,441)
Cheapest Area: Queenborough (£108,238)

Surrey

Best Selling Property: Flats (£225,491)
Others: Terraced (£341,686), Semi-detached (£361,697)
Most Expensive Area: (£1,843,021)
Cheapest Area: Stanwell (£201,147)

East Sussex

Best Selling Property: Flats (£174,917)
Others: Semi-detached (£245,863), Detached (£361,112)
Most Expensive Area: Colemans Hatch (£742,333)
Cheapest Area: St Leonards Green (£116,872)

West Sussex

Best Selling Property: Detached (£415,395)
Others: Terraced (£208,074), Semi-detached (£246,673)
Most Expensive Area: Amberley (£1,762,222)
Cheapest Area: Three Bridges (£186,735)