Q & A
DIRECTOR, DOUGLAS & GORDON
Am I better off buying in an established area or going to the next up-and-coming one?
Buying property in the next up-and-coming area is always risky if you’re looking for value growth. Douglas & Gordon figures show that areas around Prime Central London grew by twice the rate that Prime did – but, if you’re lucky enough to have the choice, would you rather live in Chelsea or Clapham? There are ways of piggybacking on others so they do the demographic work for you though. Always look at retailers like Sainsburys or Starbucks as they will only open in an area if they feel confident a new batch of monied residents is arriving. The appearance of upmarket estate agents also indicates an area on the rise. You can learn more about your chosen area by visiting new websites like streetcheck.co.uk which has crime figures and other key facts in precisely the area you’re looking in. Ultimately, if you’re looking for your property’s value to soar, make sure you buy the worst house in the best street.