City's rich pickings
THE description of the perfect property, defined in a recently published survey, fits many of the homes located in the Plymouth commuter belt.
Developers Banner Homes discovered that what most prospective purchasers crave is to have a supermarket within two miles, a beach within ten miles, open countryside within five miles and a pub where the landlord knows your name within walking distance.
Most towns and villages in the Plymouth area can tick those off their list as well as many homes within the city itself, underlining the fact that the area offers people a very high quality of life.
Flanked by the wide open spaces of the Dartmoor National Park and the lush rolling countryside of the South Hams the city not only has a stunning waterfront of its own but is only a short drive from some of the loveliest beaches in both Devon and Cornwall.
Come and have a look at the extensive range of tiles we have in stock at our Drake Mill, Estover showroom. Most items in stock to take away or delivery option available.
Terms: Showromm open Monday to Thursday 9am - 5pm and Friday 9am - 3pm.
Contact: 01752 421047
Valid until: Saturday, June 15 2013
Leisure opportunities abound – whether it is walking or riding inland or taking to the water.
Good neighbours and a good community spirit were also high on the wish list and thriving local societies, churches, clubs and organisations in the towns and villages around Plymouth help to secure that for home owners as well.
Many of the communities that surround the city have excellent amenities of their own including local shops, pubs and restaurants – and you don't even have to travel into the city for your fine dining experience.
The Treby Arms at Sparkwell, for instance, is run by Professional Masterchef winner Anton Piotrowski and you can get delicious food at many of the inns that can be found dotted around Plymouth.
Throw into the mix excellent local schools, the award-winning Theatre Royal and the Pavilions attracting leading names from the entertainment world, excellent shopping opportunities both in the city centre and the surrounding towns and you have the recipe for an idyllic location.
Houses themselves should have good parking facilities, a spare room, an en-suite bathroom and an open fire, according to the survey but local estate agent Jason Hooper, regional director of Fulfords, reckons that affordability also comes high on most people's wish list.
"Before making their choice people have to sit down and work out their budget and this will dictate both the location and style of the house they are looking for," he said.
Stuart Millington of Millington Tunnicliff based at Ivybridge agrees and adds: "And it doesn't matter how much they have to spend – whether it is £100,000 or a couple of million pounds – there will always be compromises that have to be made.
"Even if people have the kind of budget most of us can only dream of they will probably have to make a compromise at some point, perhaps not buying in their favourite location in order to get the size or style of the house they want. It could be a level site or an extra bedroom they give up but something usually has to go.
"Before house-hunting you have to decide what is important to you and that will change at different stages of your life depending on what your priorities are.
"It's a bit like the kind of car you drive – when you are young and single you probably favour a sporty number but when the children come along you will be wanting an estate car.
"Actually one of the biggest demands we have at the moment is for bungalows and they are difficult to find because there are few of them available. There is a general lack of supply of property at the moment.
"People particularly want to have some land, especially in the rural areas, and if a property with an acre of land comes on the market and is accurately priced we will be inundated with enquiries."
Jason Hooper emphasises the rich choices there are in Plymouth and the surrounding areas, ranging from moorland villages such as Yelverton or Shaugh Prior to the South Hams and Rame Peninsula.
"There are so many areas which are convenient for both the moors and the lovely beaches we have all around us," he pointed out. "We also have excellent accessibility here with the A38 both to Exeter and Cornwall which is important in the recession with more people having to travel to find work.
"We may no longer have an airport in Plymouth itself but we have an excellent international airport which is only around 45-minutes' drive away and don't forget we also have Brittany Ferries on our doorstep. You can be in the office on Friday afternoon, in France for the weekend and back at your desk for Monday morning."
Among the properties which Millington Tunnicliff (01752 896020) has on their books at the moment is Saddlers at Glazebrook Court near the thriving town of South Brent.
Convenient for both the moors and the A38 as well as within easy reach of the coast this three-bedroom property has a spacious living area and a conservatory and a master bedroom with en suite plus those all important parking spaces. There is an easily maintained garden and views over open farmland and it is on the market for £232,500.
Closer to the amenities of the town of South Brent is Noland Park, a more substantial four-bedroom property with a large level garden which could even be sub divided to create a separate building plot. There is parking on the drive plus a garage and the house has a flexible layout which is ripe for modernisation and could be adapted to suit varying needs. The guide price is £385,000.
In the community of Horrabridge, perfect for commuting into Plymouth or visiting the bustling award-winning market town of Tavistock, is a stunning contemporary house called Great Western Lodge which is on a select development on the site of the Old Station. There are three bedrooms, the master en suite, and a rear garden with views of Dartmoor, parking on the drive and a garage. Fulfords of Tavistock (01822 616121) is asking £400,000.
For those preferring coast to countryside, 13 Heybrook Bay is an extended detached family home which has tremendous views of Plymouth Sound and the Breakwater. There are three double bedrooms plus a study, parking for four cars on the drive and a garage and a sun terrace which looks out to sea and enclosed garden. The versatile accommodation is well presented and the guide price is £460,000. More details on 01752 404033.
Comments