Property

What will the average buy?

Halifax says the average house price is now £130,000, but what will that buy you? Jill Papworth takes a look

Jill Papworth
Saturday June 7, 2003

The Guardian

The average house price in Britain has now reached £129,568, according to new figures this week from Halifax. But can you really buy an "average house" for £130,000?

On a quest to find the mythical average house, we trawled through properties on the books of Halifax Estate Agents, which has 360 branches spread throughout England and Wales, plus independent agencies in Scotland to find examples of what £130,000 will buy in various locations - including the company's home town of Halifax.

The results may come as a surprise to many. While regional price variations obviously mean that you get much more for your money in some locations than others, the contrasts are not as stark as one might expect.

Yes, the money will nearly stretch to two beautiful five-bedroomed restored crofts in a spectacular beach-side location, currently on the market through Stornoway-based Anderson, Macarthur (01851 703356) for £140,000. But that's in the Outer Hebrides, so perhaps the price is not that surprising.

What about the south east? Surely £130,000 won't buy you anything - perhaps no more than a garage or even an off-street parking space in the capital? But the truth is that it will stretch to a one or two bedroom flat in outer London postcodes or a studio flat in a private development nearer the centre of the city, as our example shows.

Equally, the Londoner's dream of being able to sell up a modest home in the south and escape to a country mansion or even a habitable island with the proceeds does not stand up to the reality test. Price variations around the UK are no longer that extreme.

The selection of properties priced at around £130,000 that we found with the help of the Halifax indicates that the average price will buy you a wide choice of styles and size ranging from a stylish four-bedroom, modern, detached house in Worksop, Nottinghamshire to a smart, one-bedroom flat in one of Brighton's desirable Regency crescents.

Here is a selection of what we found:

· Offers in the region of £124,995 are invited on a three-bedroom, detached property in the increasingly popular residential location of Southowram, Halifax.

· A third floor studio flat with a small galley kitchen in a private development in Kennington, south-east London, close to a tube station and with views across to the City of London plus access to residents' private gardens. Asking price £129,000.

· A three-bedroom converted chapel in the village of South Somercotes, Lincolnshire with huge rooms including a galleried landing overlooking a 24-ft lounge. Asking price £125,000.

· Offers in excess of £130,000 are invited for Toad Hall, a three-bedroom cottage set on three floors in Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria. Its attractions include a lounge with a balcony overlooking the garden which backs on to a beck. The price includes furniture.

· Offers in the region of £135,000 are invited for the three-bedroom, semi-detached town house. It has two reception rooms, a luxury Shaker-style fitted kitchen and dining area and a fitted garage set in a cul de sac in Newtownards, County Down, Northern Ireland.

· A two-bedroom period stone cottage dating back to the 1800s with features including an open fireplace with wood burner and wooden beams to ceilings in Melksham, Wiltshire. Asking price £126,950.

· A modern, two-bedroom, detached bungalow on a large plot within a cul de sac in the village of St Mellons near Cardiff. It has pretty, secluded gardens to the rear and an enclosed front garden with driveway leading to a detached garage. Asking price £129,950.

· A one-bedroom, second floor flat in Brighton with entry phone system in a sought- after crescent close to shops, restaurants and mainline rail links to London and Gatwick. Asking price £125,950.

· An attractive, four-bedroom, detached house in a popular residential area of Worksop, Nottinghamshire with garage and standing space for several cars. Asking price £128,000.

· A spacious, two-bedroom upper floor flat with communal gardens in a sought-after residential area in the popular seaside town of Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear. Asking price £127,500.

· A two bedroom, Grade II listed cottage with period features, including exposed wall and ceiling beams and flagstone floors, and a side courtyard garden in Evesham, Worcestershire. Asking price £129,950.

· Number 1 Mission Hall is an unusual three-bedroom, semi-detached property on two floors in the village of Aylesham near Canterbury in Kent. Asking price £125,000.

Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2003

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