The debate over whether we will end up going back to the office five days a week is likely to rumble on for the coming years. Desperate employers worried that the genie is out of the bottle are battling with those of us who happen to get more done when we aren’t distracted by gossiping at the water cooler.
And it’s not just anecdotal either. According to research undertaken by Close Brothers, 39 per cent of Londoners are thinking of moving to achieve a better quality of life. So where should you move if lifestyle is driving your decision? Surrey has often been touted in times gone by as the first county to consider. Close enough to the big smoke to commute, it’s also far enough away to ensure rolling hills and to warrant the hassle and cost of a move. But have all the decent homes been sold and is there any value left?
According to Zoopla the average price sits at an eye-watering £640k, having risen by 1.75 per cent in the past three months and 3.33 per cent in the past 12 months. West Sussex, Berkshire and East Sussex all seem to provide better value. We are talking London prices with a nicer view or more space rather than a value proposition. And yet, as businesses flirt with a return to office life, perhaps Surrey is a safer bet. Besides, it’s not hard to grasp the county’s appeal, especially for post-pandemic buyers. If there’s one thing that Surrey has more of than ex-Londoners it’s trees. The national average is 11.8 per cent coverage, yet this county boasts 22.4 per cent.
You may be tempted to move to the extremities of the county to find something for your budget. But beware of the parts to the west of the county that are a little close to the flightpaths of Heathrow and to the east where Gatwick dominates the airways. And remember that while the travel bans are in place, you could be lulled into a false sense of security that it’s ‘not that bad’ living under a flight path.
For the really budget conscious, I’d start your search in Haslemere. The roads are good and the train service better. Budget on an hour and a half commuting time.
£550k will get you a centrally located house with bundles of character but in need of work. Alternatively, this former pub with a double garage is Grade II listed and does have 4/5 bedrooms at a slightly pricey £865k. And at £700k a 14th century, Grade II listed cottage with garden and off-street parking could be the best of the lot.
The smaller towns and villages around the area offer pockets of value. Binscombe and Farncombe near Goldalming may have a more functional feel than most picture postcard Surrey villages but they boast a train line into London with the same countryside right on your doorstep. For instance, this five-bedroom family home gets you a garden and a good deal of indoor living space for £625,000. Those who are after something more characterful will be met with price tags to match. This three bedder on Petworth Road outside Godalming is on at £835k with just under half an acre of garden and it dates from 1590. Whitmore Vale near Grayshott is more expensive but, at £900k, this is certainly a great family house.
Will prices in the area continue to rise? I expect so, especially if you’re looking for a character property with a decent sized garden.
Surrey also has is a lot of newer build properties. Opportunistic developers have infilled larger garden plots or tagged onto the edge of villages as local authorities scrambled to meet their housing number targets. Some are, frankly, a blot on the landscape whilst others have become faceless developments around the major towns in the area. Invariably you’re better off going outside into the wilds to find a property that provides an opportunity to expand in future years.
However, smaller new build developments like this plot of four new homes in Cranleigh are worth keeping an eye on as, if built in a high-demand area, they tend to hold their value more than large-scale estates. Farnham also boasts a small collection of new build homes. Buying early before a build is complete can sometimes allow you to snap up a bargain as developers are keen to make an early return. The same is true when purchasing the last property on a development or the show home.
You might think that a two-bedroom house is not for you. However, if you’re looking for a garden and a blank canvas, then it may be worth considering a smaller property that you can eventually extend. For a similar price to a box house built in the past 20 years, you can purchase a property that has huge potential. And space too. This £785k property is less than a mile from the train station.
And just look what you can get if you can increase your budget to a million. This house in Stovolds Hill, just outside Cranleigh is a cracker.
If you prefer village life to suburbia, you’re better off heading in the direction of Cranleigh and Ewhurst. For £1.35 million, this semi-detached wing of a Grade II listed country house will make a lovely home.
Rarely do buyers head into the Surrey Hills. Holmbury St. Mary, Abinger and Wotton are all worth considering. Supply remains tight but prices have not moved to quite the extent of the established commuter towns.
And, relatively speaking, they offer comparative value. £650k will get you this charming 4 bedroom house in Holmbury St. Mary or if you are prepared to venture to the south of the county, there’s a ‘do-er upper’ in Fernhurst – a small three bedroom cottage for £405k.
Inevitably the larger price rises have been to the north of Surrey, around the larger towns and near to railway stations. It will be difficult to find value anywhere close to Guildford, for instance. Venture to the south or away from those transport nodes and you’ll find greater value and perhaps more opportunity. Outside Godalming is Hambledon and this £800k three bedroom cottage has plenty of outside land and potential too.
As with every property search, it’s important to consider Surrey’s micro markets. Check with the relevant local authority for any upcoming housing developments so that you can ensure you’re not buying somewhere that’s about to become a new housing estate. A flood of new properties in a popular area will increase demand and bring down prices.
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