Help, there are no affordable homes near me! Are you feeling worn out from searching for a new home, but all of your findings are out of your price range? Don’t worry; we have some suggestions to help you on your first step onto the property ladder, and with our advice, you won’t slip!
Surging prices and a shortage of homes mean that it is difficult to invest in property, and renting is the only option for many. It can be unaffordable and also seem like you’re throwing money away when you could be paying towards a mortgage. These results mean more people live in poverty as they struggle to pay housing costs that eat up large proportions of their income; meanwhile, others face eviction and homelessness if they cannot keep up with rent. With weekly surges in the cost of living, there surely have to be some options to help those who want to tackle these frustrating obstacles.
Have you considered rural living?
Some of you may have noticed that it has been Rural Housing Week, but what is it? It’s an annual campaign that showcases the fantastic work housing associations do in rural communities. It is an excellent opportunity to highlight the many ways in which housing associations are working to support the levelling-up agenda in rural areas. You may be focusing on city living and prefer the idea of commuting closer to work and social events; however, you could be missing out on a more affordable property that is closer than you think!
For example, suppose you are looking at buying or renting in the North West, such as Liverpool city centre. In that case, costs can be substantially higher than just outside the Liverpool City Region. A short 15-minute commute outside the city to the Wirral Peninsula can give you far more “bang for your buck”.
Data from the Office for National Statistics reveals that the cheapest parts of Wirral to purchase property were Birkenhead and Tranmere, which had a median house price of £91,500, Seacombe (£94,250) and Rock Ferry (£118,998). In contrast, first-time buyers looking at the Liverpool City region are spending £155,000 on their property – a £14,000 increase on last year alone.
What are other benefits of rural living?
There are so many added benefits to consider when looking at rural living. Can you think of what they might be?
- A stronger sense of local community: Not only are rural neighbourhoods quieter and more picturesque, but they’re also known for being safer, with less crime.
- Less pollution: This includes not just noise but sound and light pollution too.
- Less litter.
- Less traffic.
- More space to live and enhanced wellbeing.
What are other people looking for right now?
It might help to know what your competition is also looking for on the market at the moment. Here are the top 5 properties searched for across the UK on our website that could also help you with broadening your options:
- Flats / Apartments
- Semi-Detached
- Bungalows
- Detached Houses
- Terraced Houses
What are the Top 10 areas across England that are searched for to buy an affordable home?
Are you looking to move, or perhaps you live in the regions below? Consider searching the outskirts of these areas to find a more affordable property.
- M3 – Manchester
- SW1A – London
- MK9 – Milton Keynes
- SK4 – Stockport
- L3 – Liverpool
- RG1 – Reading
- B3 – Birmingham
- BS1 – Bristol
- LS1 – Leeds
- HR4 – Hereford
Are you looking for an affordable retirement property to buy?
You might feel lost from constantly searching for a property to retire to and always finding the cost is slightly out of your price range. Here are the top 10 areas searched on affordable retirement properties that you might have missed!
- SW1A – London
- LS1 – Leeds
- BS1 – Bristol
- B3 – Birmingham
- SO15 – Southampton
Our site, MovingSoon, only advertises affordable housing options, so our search tab is a great place to check out! Looking for more advice? Feel free to get in touch.
