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Five Property Hotspots to Move to in East Anglia
As one of the top East Anglia removal companies, we know all about the delights of Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex – and it seems other people do too, with many of the region’s towns featuring among some of the most desirable places to live in surveys and house market analysis in the past 18 months.
Here are five towns and villages which have featured at or near the top of various property barometers – and how Hamiltons Removals can help you move to all of them.
Woodbridge, Suffolk
This town on the banks of the River Deben has scored highly in two surveys this year. It was named as the best place to live in the Eastern region in the Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide, which was revealed in March.
The judges commended Woodbridge for its thriving independent high street, its community vibe and its arts and culture, mentioning the Artspace and Gallery East galleries.
In November, the town was ranked the 13th happiest place to live in the whole of the UK according to the Happy at Home index compiled by leading property portal Rightmove.
‘Happiness’ was measured by friendliness and community spirit, the amount of green spaces as well as the number and quality of schools, restaurants, shops and sports facilities.
Halesworth, Suffolk
Property-related internet searches for this north Suffolk market town more than doubled in the 12 months to September last year according to leading property portal Rightmove. In purely statistical terms, there was a 102% rise in searches for a town which has a population of under 5,000.
Housing market analysts say part of the reason for the increase is the growing interest in rural living, with many employees working from home more and commuting less. However, Halesworth has plenty of individual features to commend itself – it’s close to the Suffolk Heritage Coast and also has excellent rail links to both Norwich and London.
There’s also a thriving arts scene which is centred around The Cut Arts Centre, while the main shopping street (The Thoroughfare) has a good mix of independent stores and national chains.
Buckhurst Hill, Essex
In the 12 months to September 2020, Buckhurst Hill saw a 164% increase in home sales according to Rightmove. This placed it third in the whole country, behind only Dartmouth in Devon and St Ives in Cornwall.
Why is it so popular? Local market analysts point to the town’s ‘villagey’ feel despite being technically part of the Greater London Urban Area, which means it is attractive to those who want to move out of the capital. For London-based workers, Buckhurst Hill is also on the Central Line of the Tube so getting into the capital is very easy.
The town also has the advantages of having plenty of tree-lined streets, independent shops and open spaces – not least Epping Forest, which is close by.
Dedham Vale, Essex
Like Woodbridge, Dedham Vale was placed highly in the Best Places to Live guide, being ranked behind the Suffolk town in the Eastern region category. Judges praised Dedham village for its ‘immaculate’ and ‘timeless’ appearance, and its network of cycle routes and footpaths which helped people to enjoy the beauty of a place which is in the heart of Constable Country.
Its location near the A12 also makes it an attractive place to live for those working in Ipswich, Colchester or London.
Norwich, Norfolk
Norfolk’s ‘capital’ was also one of the Best Places to Live in the East, according to the Sunday Times. It was praised for its arts venues – four theatres, an independent cinema (Cinema City) and the thriving Norwich Arts Centre – and the University of East Anglia has its own concerts and events.
Although the city is relatively isolated from the rest of the country (a direct rail service to London Liverpool Street notwithstanding), the nearby North Norfolk coast is some of the most attractive in the country. With an airport just 15 minutes from the city centre, flights to Europe and some UK destinations are both frequent and convenient.
Norwich’s property prices are also relatively low compared to other major cities in the UK, which has helped fuel demand.
Looking for East Anglia Removal Companies? Try Hamiltons Removals
Hamiltons Removals can help you with house removals to Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex and across the UK. We offer free online removals quotes, which you can access via this link; we can then follow this up with a home visit and a more detailed estimate. We can conduct video surveys if you have a busy schedule.
We also provide a range of other services including packing and unpacking services, commercial moves, overseas removals and specialist moves (which includes pets, horses and vehicles). If you need to store items between moves, we have two Safe N Stored sites at Harleston and Aldeby on the Norfolk/Suffolk border.
For more information about any of our services, you can call us on 01379 855203 or email us at info@hamiltonsremovals.co.uk.
Image: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS/ASHLEY DACE
Key Reasons to Consider Moving Early in the New Year
Most people think the housing market only really gets moving around Easter time. With the warmer weather, the extra daylight hours, and the chance to have a spring clean all being cited as reasons why estate agents are much busier in spring than in winter.
However, there are plenty of reasons why would-be homebuyers should consider putting their properties on the market early in the New Year. Here Hamiltons Removals, one of the leading moving companies in East Anglia, highlight some key reasons why the market is likely to be busy in early 2022, and how we can help if you will be ‘on the move’ next year.
Supply and Demand
Reports from property specialists throughout the past few months have indicated a shortage of available houses. Therefore, it’s very much a seller’s market at the moment. It may not have helped that, according to construction industry experts, more than 100,000 fewer homes will be built by the end of 2023 than initially forecast because the sector was hit hard by lockdowns and other restrictions. This is especially true when it comes to social housing.
So it’s a good time to sell and get things moving, although it is worth bearing in mind that finding the right home to move to may be more difficult. If you do choose to sell, it is worth knowing that new listings always garner the most attention.
The Time Factor
The holiday periodbetween Christmas and New Year gives people the time to view properties online. Crucially it will also give other people the chance to view yours, assuming it’s on the market at the same time.
Rightmove, the property website, reports there’s usually a huge surge in traffic between Christmas and the New Year because people are together and discussing plans for the future. Many people make a house move a New Year resolution.
The Cost of Moving
There are some specific market conditions this year that should influence your decision.
The stamp duty holiday is now over – initially, the stamp duty holiday meant buyers didn’t have to pay it on the first £500,000 of a property’s purchase price. Then it was the first £250,000. And, as of October 1, it is back to the first £125,000 just like it was before the pandemic.
However, interest rates are predicted to rise at some point in 2022, having been at a historically low level for many months. Once interest rates rise, this usually feeds through into mortgage rates, making it more expensive to buy a home. Many would-be buyers know this and may think there’s no sense waiting any longer to buy.
The Pandemic Effect
The pandemic has also had an effect on buyer’s attitudes, not just on the number of homes being built. According to property portal Zoopla, more than one in five (22%) people surveyed planned to move during the next 18 months (using October 2021 as a starting point). This is well above the usual figure of 5%, and a lot of that is thought to be down to the pandemic, as people reassess their lives and lifestyles. Zoopla predicts in its House Price Index (HPI) report that this will translate into around 1.5million homes changing hands in the UK in 2022.
What about prices? The HPI report predicts an overall rise of 3%, with rises higher where properties are relatively affordable, such as in North West England. On the contrary, London is predicted to have a relatively low rise in prices as a result of more and more people looking to move out of the capital in search of a more relaxed rural lifestyle. The pandemic has meant an increase in working from home and hybrid working, so people don’t have to go into the office or commute so much.
Moving House with Hamiltons Removals
If you are considering removals to Norfolk, Suffolk, East Anglia, or anywhere in England, Scotland or Wales, give Hamiltons Removals a call. If you would like a free online removals quote, follow this link. We also offer video surveys or can arrange for one of our surveyors to visit your home and provide a comprehensive quote.
We can also provide a packing service. Our experienced team will prepare and pack all your possessions, including fragile itms, the day before your move using the highest-quality packing materials.
And if you are looking at moving companies in East Anglia, Hamiltons can also offer a range of specialist services, including moves with pets, horses, vehicles and machinery. We can also pack and unpack your items for you, using high-quality packaging materials.We are equally adept at organising commercial moves too.