Whether looking to buy a new family home or a buy-to-let investment property, buyers can still make great returns by predicting the next ‘up-and-coming’ area, reports The County Homesearch Company. There is a cliché that the arrival of a premium coffee chain heralds gentrification, but by the time the first cappuccinos are being sipped the canny investors will have already moved in.
The County Homesearch Company has identified ten reliable signs that a district is on the up:
· Look for skips in front gardens and on the roadsides.
· Check if the council has plans to impose parking restrictions – residents-only parking is very desirable and can attract buyers to an area
· Estate agents are often the first to sniff out an opportunity, so look for new upmarket estate agencies opening on the high street
· Investigate the stock at the local garden centre. Patio furniture and high-style, low-maintenance garden accessories show the presence of time-poor affluent professionals
· See if the local sandwich bars are re-styling as delis; when Parma ham and Sicilian olives take over from egg and cress, it could be time to call the estate agents
· Working parents are desperate for good childcare provision. Private daycare nurseries are often very quick to spot new areas of opportunity, so look out for any new openings
· If the local pub has developed its exterior and installed outdoor gas heating, it is a sign that the ‘al fresco’ crowd is moving in
· The large supermarket chains have to spot trends well in advance, so keep an eye on any new upmarket stores such as Waitrose
· When an area acquires a new name, such as Brackenbury Village or Between the Commons, it is a sign that the estate agents are gearing up for a push
· Curtain, sofa and other interior design shops will start to spring up very rapidly as new owners overhaul their properties
Jonathan Haward, founder and managing director of The County Homesearch Company, comments: ‘As the housing market is still growing year on year, the trend for affluent buyers to move into traditionally down-at-heel areas continues. If buyers want to take advantage of this, they have to spot the signs as early as possible to make the maximum gains.’