Despite the price rises of the last decade, there are still good homes for under £250,000. Johnny Turner shows you where to find them.
The housing market only works as an investment if you can find a way into it. Price rises may have finally peaked for this market cycle but that is of little comfort to many prospective first-time buyers, who feel they have been left behind by the momentum of the last few years. Luckily there are quite a few newly built homes that are not only reasonably priced but also high-quality.
Chelmsford is a well-connected town with good amenities, and buyers have made it one of the South East’s most popular. Bermac Estates Plc has had great success in and around Chelmsford, providing high-spec homes at an affordable price, and now announces its latest venture, Navigation Yard.
Work is well underway at the new scheme, which is situated adjacent to Kenmore House off Navigation Road, very convenient for the town centre. Navigation Yard comprises seven luxury apartments, including two one-bedroom properties, one of which is a duplex, and five two-bedroom designs (including a second duplex). In addition there will be ground-floor office space covering 1,200 sq ft, which will be available to let.
Navigation Yard is set over four storeys with a mezzanine level. The one-bedroom apartments offer between 472 and 528 sq ft, while the two-bedrooms range from 679 to 821 sq ft. Each apartment comes with an allocated parking space. Other lifestyle benefits include pre-cabling for burglar alarms and data network, and the properties will be enabled for Sky and Sky+ television.
The scheme is sure to appeal to investors and young professionals. The journey from Chelmsford station to London Liverpool Street takes only 30 minutes; there is also an easy interchange at Stratford for DLR, mainline and Jubilee Line services.
The best news about the development is the price: apartments are expected to start at around £180,000. Off-plan enquiries are currently being taken – and interested parties should act quickly. Contact Richard Green at Bermac Estates on 01245 344444.
Laing Homes is currently selling several developments whose emphasis on quality makes their affordable price all the more surprising. A good example is Jerome Walk in Enfield, a stylish collection of one- and two-bedroom apartments and three-bedroom houses. Well situated for both transport and local amenities, these homes are priced from just £159,950 – an almost unheard-of figure these days.
Jerome Walk appeals equally to first-time buyer and investors; both types of buyer, after all, look for property that requires minimal initial outlay and is low-maintenance. To find out more about this development call 020 8804 1036.
In sought-after north-west London, Laing Homes is selling Queens Manor in Queensbury, which consists of 24 spacious two-bedroom apartments in two symmetrical three-storey blocks. Getting about from here is simple – not only does each apartment have allocated parking but the development is located only a half-mile from Queensbury tube station.
Prices at Queens Manor start at £234,950. Call 020 8732 2596 for more information.
Creswick Place, in Welwyn Garden City, comprises a range of 109 one- and two-bedroom apartments arranged in blocks of three and four storeys. Designed around plentiful communal gardens, these high-spec homes are ideal for the buyer on a budget. The development offers allocated parking for each apartment as well as visitor parking.
Prices at Creswick Place start at £161,950. Call 01707 351330.
A further Laing development with exceptional value for money is Quarles Park, located in Chadwell Heath, Essex. These homes come in a variety of styles and sizes, each of which costs surprisingly little.
Two-bedroom apartments are available from £179,950, two- and three-bedroom houses are priced from £210,000 and four-bedroom homes start at £279,950. A home exchange scheme is available on selected plots, subject to terms and conditions. For further information contact the sales office on 020 8586 4091.
In South Woodford, Essex, six properties at Bellway’s Sovereign Court in Marlborough Road have already been snapped up – even before the opening of a show home. The tube station is literally next door, which means very convenient commuting into the City. All have fitted kitchens and double glazed windows.
The one- and two-bedroom apartments start at £215,000 and £280,000 respectively. Call 020 8532 9706 to find out more.
South-east London has its share of thriving, desirable living environments, and in two of these Acorn New Homes currently offers pioneering developments by renowned national developers. In Brockley, a leafy and sought-after enclave near New Cross, The Curve is a superbly designed building with eight two-bedroom apartments and three one-bedroom apartments. The architecture is contemporary, with an array of high-quality finishes designed for comfort and practicality. Specification includes under-floor heating, modern kitchens with integrated appliances and Italian-style bathroom suites. There are also secure parking bays.
Meanwhile, in the heart of Lewisham’s vibrant town centre, The Reflection is a new scheme by award-winning developers Hambridge Homes. The Reflection offers six two-bedroom apartments and two one-bedroom apartments, each fitted with the highest quality materials from the finest manufacturers. Kitchens have a selection of integrated appliances as well as a choice of finishes from the Nobilia range. Bathrooms have chrome accessories and modern white suites from Ideal Standard, as well as tiles from Nicholls & Clark.
Lewisham is extremely convenient for commuters, with its quick rail links to London Bridge, Cannon Street and Charing Cross as well as DLR services to The City, Greenwich and Canary Wharf.
Transport for both The Curve and The Reflection will be even more varied with the extension of the East London Line, expected in 2010 with a station in Brockley and five other stations throughout the borough of Lewisham.
Prices at each of these developments start at just £190,000. Many of the apartments have already been reserved so prospective buyers should move quickly. Call Acorn New Homes on 020 8663 4466 for more information.
In Chesham, Buckinghamshire, Banner Homes’ High Point is a development of 13 apartments and a selection of three-, four- and five-bedroom homes which offer stunning views over the Pendor Valley. These homes are fitted with alarm systems and integrated media services for specialist telecom requirements. The properties offers something for every age range, from funky penthouses to more traditional houses.
Prices at High Point start at £199,950. Contact the sales office on 01494 776967.
Bovis Homes offers a selection of homes at below the £250,000 mark in several of the South East’s most popular towns, including Witham and Braintree in Essex.
At Maltings Court in Witham, there is a selection of one-bedroom apartments and two- and three-bedroom houses, including town houses. Each has been carefully designed to provide well-planned accommodation and a high-quality specification. Witham gives residents the best of both worlds – it is surrounded by beautiful countryside and also very convenient for the A12 and easy links to London.
Prices start at £197,950 for a three-bedroom property. Call 0845 230 3332 for more information.
And at The Crescent in Braintree, prices for two-bedroom properties start at an amazing £137,950. At this development you will find terraced cottages, stylish town houses and spacious family homes – something for every need and taste. Some of the larger properties feature that much-loved Bovis standby, rooms in the roof, maximising space and flexibility.
The Crescent in located on the outskirts of Braintree, within easy reach of the town’s many facilities. And trains from Braintree station run regularly into Liverpool Street. Call 01376 552524 to find out more about The Crescent.
Also from Bovis, there is a selection of two-bedroom coach houses and two-bedroom apartments at Great Ashby in Stevenage, with prices from well under £200,000.
Stylish two bedroom apartments start from £154,950, and all designs feature en-suite facilities and fitted wardrobes to the master bedroom, along with an allocated parking space. And the stylish two-bedroom Monet coach house is currently available, priced from £174,950. This attractive home has a garage, along with a handy utility room and storage area on the ground floor. Upstairs there is a sitting/dining room, kitchen, fitted wardrobes to the master bedroom, and a bathroom.
For more information on Great Ashby call 01438 354188.
Finally, Higgins Homes has launched a collection of smart, well-priced apartments in leafy Brentwood, Essex. The Arden Building is a courtyard development of 15 one- and two-bedroom apartments in a crescent-shaped building which will also be home to a restaurant – this not only provides a superb amenity to residents but adds a metropolitan air to the building.
The external design and interior specification are marked by the use of modern materials and shapes. The Crescent encompasses a delightful communal garden, which gives a serene and tranquil view to the majority of the apartments.
Prices start at £159,950 for a one-bedroom apartment. Call the sales and marketing suite on 01279 229990.