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Regional report

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 Dorset, Herefordshire and Cardiff.

The Negotiator
DORSET
Dorset property image

STATS: Average time on sale: 4.2 weeks Av on properties sold this year Average sale price: Ave Sale Price £628,650 Number of transactions (or going under offer) in past four weeks: 9

 

Trisha Ashby-Rudd

DOMVS ESTATE AGENTS IN WAREHAM
Trisha Ashby-Rudd

With every season, there are different property trends to emerge. These tend to change gradually over time, but can be more pronounced when there are social, political, or financial implications. The pandemic, for example, has caused some of the biggest shifts I’ve witnessed in my years as an estate agent.

The first biggest change we saw was early in 2020 after the first lockdown, when nearly every new buyer registering their requirements with DOMVS estate agents in Wareham was looking for additional office space or a larger garden. A lack of either of these was very much a motivator for selling up and moving house locally. More recently however, we have seen a new trend emerge, so strongly, that it has featured as a requirement for roughly 55 per cent of recent registrations for new properties – and that’s homes with income potential.

Air BnB effect

The ‘AirBnB effect’ has firmly taken hold and it’s no surprise, given how attractive Wareham, and the surrounding Purbeck area, is to holiday makers. A rise in domestic holidays, in response to the pandemic, has also contributed to Dorset’s appeal, and house-buyers are keen to capitalise on this opportunity and invest in homes with income potential. This includes both local buyers and those relocating to Dorset from London; with the latter tending to be more amenable to a shared-home lifestyle. Today’s buyers realise that by stretching their borrowing power, they could more than pay for the increased repayments when the anticipated income potential is taken into consideration from say, an annex, outbuilding, or land for a shepherd hut, for example.

As is often the case, the property market has responded to demand, and we’re currently in the process of selling a variety of properties that would suit the new trend of seeking homes with income potential. In fact, almost half of our available homes come with income potential. One such property is Limekiln House, which has been treated as a self-catering holiday accommodation offering great income potential.

Featured property: Limekiln House, East Chaldon – Offers over £1.5 million

HEREFORDSHIRE
Ross-On-Wye property

STATS: Ross-on-Wye and Forest of Dean five-year house price rise: 35% Average sold price (HR9 postcode): £360,658

 

Cat Barkley - Hemilton Stiller - imageHAMILTON STILLER, ROSS-ON-WYE
Cat Barkley

The cold, wintry weather has finally dispersed. The apple orchards are in full bloom. The woodlands are blanketed in a haze of vibrant bluebells and fragrant buds of wild garlic. It’s official; spring has sprung. Conventionally, this is a time when the property market begins to accelerate but after the whirlwind that was 2021, it could be argued that the housing frenzy never really abated.

Hordes of house hunters are out there, determinedly searching for their next home. At Hamilton Stiller, we are still seeing huge levels of buyer demand, and, for the past few months, there have not been nearly enough homes to match this.

Buyers are in stiff competition with one another. In many cases, our properties are selling quickly after garnering strong interest from several prospective purchasers. Reliable internet and good transport links are at the top of people’s wish lists when moving from cities in search of the idyllic village and rural lifestyle.

In the wake of the Covid-19 crisis, there has been a major shift in traditional working patterns, and, in turn, this has had a monumental impact on house sales. Research shows that 45 per cent of UK workers are very interested in making the switch to permanent homeworking.

Race for space

Without being bound to their desks, city-dwellers have been free to search for homes further afield. Many have found that they are able to get more bang for their buck in the countryside, as well as clean air, scenic views, and village schools with ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted ratings. And this spike of interest in this location – specifically within the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – has contributed to the swell of local house prices.

At Hamilton Stiller, the majority of house hunters who call the Ross-on-Wye office and ask to go on our database of potential buyers are coming from major cities. Frequently, one of their first questions will relate to internet speeds; how fast it is and whether fibre is available. Buyers thoroughly appreciate it when a vendor is able to do a quick speed check at home to outline the precise download speeds.

Another key point to consider is transport links – several city workers may still need to occasionally call into their main office so properties that have easy access to A-roads and motorways tend to be particularly appealing.

Featured property: Bramble Combe, Upton Bishop – £1,250,000

CARDIFF

STATS: Average percentage of asking price achieved: 101% Average house price sold: £446,125 Average house price under offer: £572,212 Average fee: 1%

 

Tony Filice -KELVIN FRANCIS
Tony Filice, Director

Wales continues to experience some of the strongest property price increases across the UK with the average price of a property in Wales being now more than £233,000, a new record. The pace of property growth has increased since last autumn. In Cardiff, the average annual price increase is 8.4% and 5.3% being the average quarterly increase. The average house price in Cardiff is £295,100.

Despite the strong performance in the housing market with continued pent-up demand being slowly released and more choice of properties coming onto the market, coupled with cost-of-living pressures mounting and increased mortgage interest rates, there are signs that the housing market is starting to slow down. In Cardiff, we have noted an increase in the number of valuations property listings.

Multiple offers are still being received on properties in good school catchment areas with large gardens, as these are the top of the list, now that individuals are working from home and are prepared to offer more.

However, with the increase in mortgage rates and the high cost of living, viewers are now taking more time before offering on a property, coupled with having an increase in choice, compared to a few months ago. A number of abortive sales have recently occurred, due to first time buyers having their mortgage agreement in principle reduced.

It has been a very buoyant market for the last 18 months and vendors now need to react to the changing economic climate and not expect double figure growth rates, but a steady rate as house prices stabilise.

Rental market

In the rental market, more ‘one only property’ Landlords are selling their investments as Renting Homes (Wales) Act which was due to be implemented in Wales on 15 July 2022, has now been postponed to 1 December 2022. Most Welsh landlords feel that there are too many rules and regulations that keep coming into force, eroding their net monthly income, coupled with increased costs, and therefore are disposing of their assets. With the continued shortage of rental properties, rapid lettings are being achieved and rents have continued to increase over the last six months by 20 per cent or more.

Featured property: Roath Park, Cardiff – Price guide: £750,000

 

 

August 19, 2022

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