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Spotlight: what’s the market like in Wakefield, Derry and Congresbury.

Each month we visit three agents across the country to discover what is happening in their local market. This month we meet members of the Guild of Property Professionals in Wakefield, Derry and Congresbury.

The Negotiator
WAKEFIELD & DEWSBURY, WEST YORKSHIRE
Link to Regional Report

STATS: Average sale price: £267,000 Average viewings per month: 288 Average Fee: 1% plus vat

 

Link to Regional ReportSimon Miller, Partner
Holroyd Miller

The Wakefield property market has seen a great deal of new build appearing close to the city centre over the last two years, with up to five large housing developments adjoining the recently opened Eastern Relief road.

This is really opening up the east side of Wakefield and making accessibility to the M62/M1 even easier.

These developments highlight how good value for money the second-hand market really is, but instructions continue to be in short supply due to the uncertainty around the B word!

However money continues to be cheap to borrow and house prices continue to be holding up without any significant increases. Confidence is high on the basis of the area’s very stable marketplace.

First time buyers are still able to buy a one bedroom flat from as little as £75,000 or a two bedroomed terraced house for £100,000, so it’s still very affordable as well as offering excellent yields for the buy to let investor.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

Demand is high for quality bungalows, mature semi-detached and detached houses and properties valued up to £400,000. Properties in excellent condition and well presented, still sell fastest – and for a better price, as buyers value their time rather than buying a project.

In locations south of Wakefield, which offer country living and a village life within an easy commute – such as Sandal, Walton, Woolley Newmillerdam and Notton where there isn’t as much development –demand continues to be high.

Wakefield is certainly seeing the benefits of being superbly located for commuting to Leeds and Sheffield with excellent links to the M1 and M62 motorway network as well as superb rail links to London and Edinburgh.

Holroyd Miller specialises in every aspect of property for sale, to let, residential and commercial, surveys and valuations.

DERRY/LONDONDERRY, NORTHERN IRELAND
Link to Regional Report

STATS: Average House Price: £125,000 Q4 NI Housing Index Average Viewings per month: 250 Average Sale Fee: 1%

 

Link to Regional Report

Stephen McCarron
Donnybrook Estate Agents

Derry/Londonderry is a city in the North West of Northern Ireland on the border close to Donegal in Southern Ireland. It is Northern Ireland’s second city with a population of 107,000. Rich in history, it is a walled city dating back to 1618. Our agency covers a large area and we act for some of Northern Ireland’s largest Developers.

Donnybrook leads the local field in Sales and Land & New Homes. The company was founded in 1997, by Stephen McCarron FNAEA. Over the last 22 years we have experienced a vast change in the residential sales market having always positioned ourselves to adapt and prosper. Whilst we retain many traditional values we have moved with the times by adapting to the changes in technology and buyers attitude. House prices remain relatively constant although there is some reticence amongst buyers over the outcome of Brexit, which may have larger ramifications for those who live in border cities or towns.

MIDDLE MARKET IS BEST

2019 has, so far, been a successful year, with New Homes Sales outstripping the resale market. This is due to the value of the product on offer and the added benefit of NHBC guarantee. Our average selling times have shortened slightly with a typical sale being completed in under 13 weeks. Our vast experience in Land & New Homes has catapulted our agency into the number one choice for developers who require the correct advice in land acquisition, development appraisals and target marketing. The middle end of the market performs best with semidetached and smaller detached homes very popular with slow but steady growth. The older terraced stock is languishing due to the lack of interest from first time buyers and with investors exiting the market due to the changes in taxation the outlook remains challenging. Prestige Homes can be hit or miss. It is crucial that the valuation is on point and when it is there are successful sales, however when competing agents get it wrong it can have a ripple effect on the market. The outlook in the city remains positive and we look forward to a continuing sensible property market.

CONGRESBURY, NORTH SOMERSET
Link to Regional Report

STATS: Average house price: £399,000 Average viewings per month: 248 Average Fee: 1.2%

 

Link to Regional ReportNeil Drejer, Branch Manager and Board of Management Executive,
Debbie Fortune Estate Agents

As we approach the halfway mark of the year, all the signs point to a very positive second six months. Due in part to the Bristol effect on our local housing market, house sales remain strong with buyers looking for a conveniently positioned rural property within easy commuting distance to the city.

On average we agree sales at a rate of one sale every 48 hours with sensibly priced middle market homes £400,000 to £550,000.

Thankfully we are not greatly affected by the online agents in our area with vendors preferring to stick with established local agents rather than take chances. We have healthy competition from strong local agencies, in which we often find ourselves involved in chains with and we have mutual respect.

We also take great pride in supporting as many local events as possible. We are very much part of our community and in recent months we have donated part of our office to a charitable coffee shop for local folk to enjoy a hot drink and homemade cake without paying the price on the high street! With donations from local builders/kitchen suppliers and the time of the volunteer work force this has become a real hot spot in the village!

10 YEARS ON!

This year marked our tenth anniversary as an estate agency in North Somerset and we have grown our business steadily to three branches all within a ten mile radius, again keeping to our mantra of being a local agents who live and breathe our patch. We employ 26 members of staff (all local) and where possible recommend local solicitors, surveyors and trades people.

Having joined the business just over three years ago from one of the most recognised prime estate agents in country, I knew that who I left them to work for would have to have their roots firmly embedded in the local community and share my own personal ethos and Debbie Fortune certainly has that.

Pictured property: Old Rectory Cottage, Kingston Seymour, a five bedroomed detached family home. Guide Price £735,000

July 18, 2019

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