11
Jul
The lure of the countryside
It is not unusual for those approaching retirement or couples who
have finished their working lives to consider the countryside as a
place to live. If they have worked hard all their careers, then the
attractions of rural life are sure to lure many people into
settling away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Who lives in a house like this?
But what sort of person chooses a life surrounded by trees, country
pubs and village shops? According to John Shepherd, a fellow at the
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), most people opt to
move the countryside when their families have left home and there
is no longer a requirement for access to schools and all the other
amenities young people desire on a daily basis.
"We do have people who live in the cities - perhaps London or
Birmingham - who find that after a while, they want to enjoy rural
life so they want to move out of the cities," he explained.
Edward Briggs, a partner at professional services firm RM Bidwells,
suggested that those who put down roots in the countryside "tend to
be approaching middle age or approaching retirement". A large
percentage of them are apparently professionals who have seen their
families grow up and move out, and now want a base big enough to
welcome all their loved ones when they return for a visit.
What's the attraction?
Contrary to Mr Shepherd's comments, the RM Bidwells representative
indicated that people often choose the countryside as a place to
live because of schooling requirements. It would seem that living
in a certain catchment area to ensure their child gets the desired
education is a reason for people heading out of cities and
towns.
The safety element also comes into it. "If they are living in
cities or towns they can be more at risk of crime than they are in
the rural areas," Mr Briggs remarked.
Both property industry figures tend to agree that the countryside
atmosphere is often a deciding factor behind any person's move out
into the sticks. The RICS fellow said: "Many people move out
because they feel they want to be in a more pleasant environment,
without too much pollution and that sort of thing."
It may have been part of a homeowner's long-term ambition, he
added, but school and work restricted them to living in more
built-up areas.
Mr Shepherd agreed, saying he is sure wealthy people would
typically choose a large house in rural England as their preferred
type of residence. "You can generally buy larger houses in the
rural areas than you can in the urban areas," the expert commented.
"And you don't get the same impact of traffic, or noise and
neighbours.
Rural property and the current market
It is generally perceived that there is an ongoing demand for
country-based properties, as many consumers in the UK hold onto a
"rural dream", according to Mr Shepherd.
He also indicated that when economic problems hit the UK, it is
high-end property prices such as those for homes found in the Home
Counties that are late to go into decline, if at all.
Mr Briggs is of the opinion that rural property prices in the
south-east or regions such as the West Country "are going to be
more robust than less desirable areas, because of the
demand".
However, he suggested that prices will remain relatively static for
the foreseeable future due to the wider economic situation
affecting the whole of the UK.
The National Housing Federation (NHF) claims that the general
demographic for people living in England's countryside is an older,
wealthier homeowner and suggests that many younger people will be
migrating to the towns and cities in the coming years. "Waiting
lists for affordable homes have soared by around 40 per cent in
rural areas over the last five years," it explained, before adding
that wealthy commuters, second-home buyers and retired couples
dominate the market.
Emphasising the situation further, the NHF said rural house prices
generally tend to be "well above the national average" as a
result.
Premier League property
With property prices in the English countryside generally higher
than homes elsewhere, it is unsurprising to note that many Premier
League footballers look to make their homes there.
A report from the Times last week revealed that estate agents in
parts of Surrey are anticipating a hike in housing values in the
coming months, perhaps in conjunction with more big-money transfers
bringing the world's top players to England's top tier of
football.
Citing recent research from Savills, it was revealed that the cost
of homes in the desirable areas of Esher and Weybridge, which are
priced between £1 million and £2 million, increased by
seven per cent in the last three months. Meanwhile, bricks and
mortar in the £2 million to £4 million price bracket
inflated in value by ten per cent.
Chelsea and England captain John Terry is one of the stars who
lives in the heart of Surrey's sought-after region - in Oxshott,
near his club's training facilities in Cobham. He can name
team-mate Ashley Cole and his Pop Idol pin-up wife Cheryl, as well
as Jamie and Louise Redknapp, as fellow members of the local
community.
The average residence in the Crown Estate region of Oxshott costs
around £4 million, which truly emphasises the Premier League
value of property located away from the hectic urban life.
