Peak Road maisonette offers an excellent first time investment

A very attractive maisonette in excellent decorative order, this one bedroom property is located in a popular area of Guildford, selected for good communications and local facilities including local bus routes into town; and a parade of shops with an excellent fish and chip shop.

One bedroom maisonette is reasonably priced

The property is entered through its own entrance and consists of a large living room, good sized double bedroom, well-equipped kitchen and family bathroom. The property also benefits from off-street parking and a private front garden. 

The property is being marketed by Cobbles, an agent that knows this area well. Further details are available at this link - http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-53048582.html

The asking price is a reasonable £180,000 so if rented out as an investment property I expect it to generate a gross yield of 6%, if rented out at £925 pcm. There will obviously be a standing charge and annual ground rent to account for.

If you would like to talk to us about your potential investment, please call 01483 320 207 or email richard@guildfordpropertyblog.co.uk for a chat about where to invest in the local area.

2 bed flat in central Guildford will deliver 4.7%

This 2 bed flat is situated in an ideal location, within a 5 minute walk of Guildford town centre so will be easy to rent out.

Central Guildford location to deliver 4.7%

The flat is being marketed by our friends at Townends, Guildford. It comprises two double bedrooms, kitchen/lounge area and bathroom, all in excellent condition. There is a shared garden and private garage. Further information is available here.

The rental will be in the region of £1,295 pcm so should deliver a typical gross yield of 4.7%.

If you would like to talk to us about your potential investment, please call 01483 320 207 or email richard@guildfordpropertyblog.co.uk  for a chat about where to invest in the local area.

Ex-council properties in Guildford ... are they good buy to let investments?

Have your property cake and eat it?

It is common knowledge that many landlords purchase their investment properties in Bellfields because they have found that these ex-council properties can achieve good, annual yields of around 7%. This is especially so if they take advantage of the typical layout and design of these properties. 

Most are built with an outhouse where coal would have been stored in the old days; or alternatively an outside toilet. Those investors that have demolished this outhouse have been able to build a substantial extension in its place to provide an additional utility room, toilet and reception room and if a two storey extension, an ensuite bedroom upstairs.

6 bed HMO delivers 14% gross yield

Investors in Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO's) have taken this process one step further by modifying a 3 bedroom house on Hornbeam Road, for example, to convert a downstairs reception room into a bedroom to provide a total of 4 bedrooms and then extend out to the rear to enlarge the kitchen to create a larger communal area and two further bedrooms. They also managed to squeeze a shower unit into each bedroom to maximise their rental from the property. 

Their rental income amounted to a staggering £4,200 pcm, compared with a typical rental of £1,350 for a similar 3 bed property down the street that has not been extended. This investor would have paid (at current asking prices) £360,000, so is achieving a remarkable gross yield of 14%. This obviously does not account for the investment required to extend the property but no doubt the increase in property value (estimated to be £450,000) has enabled the investor to remortgage and therefore take most of his money out of the property to provide a very healthy return on cash invested.

While this opportunity will deliver an extremely healthy cashflow the next question to ask is "would the capital growth for this property in Hornbeam Road be typical of that experienced by Guildford property taken as a whole?"  

What is the capital growth in Grange Rd compared with Hornbeam Rd?

How does capital growth compare for these 3 bed houses compared with Hornbeam Rd?

When sold prices for Hornbeam Road are  compared with those for similar sized 3 bed semi detached properties in nearby Grange Road and Princess Mary Close, Queen Elizabeth Park, built in 2003, the following figures, suggest that the answer is a resounding "yes".

The growth in capital for the houses in Hornbeam Road was 200%, Grange Road was 169% and finally Princess Mary Close was just 132%.

While the ex council estate property may have been considerably cheaper to purchase 11 year's ago it's growth rate would suggest that the demand by investors and owner occupiers for these properties has increased and therefore pushed prices up over this period. However they still remain cheaper than properties in the surrounding areas and will therefore remain attractive to investors especially if they are keen to create an HMO as the landlord quoted above did so successfully.

It therefore does seem that you can have your property "cake" and eat it!

If you would like advice about what could make a good investment, please call 01483 320 207 or email richard@guildfordpropertyblog.co.uk

Modernised house in Middleton Road ready to let

If you require a property to move into without any work, then this is a fine example, as it has been extended and modernised throughout in recent years. It is ideally situated for those working in the Surrey Research Park, a ten minute walk away. It is also close to the University of Surrey and the Guildford County Hospital.

A modernised house not far from the University, Research Park & Hospital

This means there will not shortage of tenants whether they be a family or sharers wanting to live here to enable the investor to earn a return in excess of 4%.

The main feature is a large double reception room plus there is a brand new kitchen and bathroom too. 

The property is being marketed by Seymours, Guildford and further information is available at:- http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-50554750.html

Want to have a chat about Guildford property values and where the best areas are to invest in Guildford? Call me on 01483 320 207 or drop me an email richard@guildfordpropertyblog.co.uk

Enjoy earning 6% gross yield in semi-rural Wood Street

Last month we found a 2 bed flat in Wildfield Close on which we remarked it was located in quiet, semi-rural area, in Wood Street Village but still within a reasonably close distance to the A3 link to London and Portsmouth; plus local employers on the Surrey Research Park and at The University of Surrey.

Now we have spotted a pretty, terraced 3 bed house with a reasonable asking price of £290,000 in the same quiet street (the flat was priced at £200,000). It contains a large, modern kitchen which should sell the house, in itself. There is a downstairs wc plus a garden.

Stunning kitchen to suit today's lifestyle

With a potential rental of £1395 pcm and assuming the property realises the asking price an investor will earn a gross yield in excess of 6% which is almost as much as the 2 bed flat featured in the blog, early in May this year.

This property is therefore likely to fly off the books of Cobbles, the estate agent handling the sale.

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-52909016.html

If you would like advice about what could make a good investment, please call 01483 320 207 or email richard@guildfordpropertyblog.co.uk

Will flats in GU1 offer the best return?

Having considered a number of investment opportunities recently that have seen a potential return of more than 5% from purchasing a flat I thought we should examine the case for investing in flats, in Guildford, and in particular in the GU1 postcode area.

There is a considerable range of flats in GU1, from 1 bed to 3 beds, purpose built and conversions. There are developments built overlooking Stoke Park or The River Wey too, all offering pleasant surroundings and views over the town, yet within walking distance of shops and transport links.

The price range varies enormously too.  For example, a one bed flat in a cul de sac just off Manor Road was featured recently in the blog, because the asking price of £169,950 was considered to be one of the lowest prices to be paid for a residential property that it not a shared ownership, in Guildford, in recent times. However this was in the GU2 postcode area.

One of the lowest priced properties in Guildford at £169,950

At the other end of the scale one might expect to pay in excess of £1/2 million for a three bed purpose built flat in Printing House Square, just off Guildford High Street, as this is a prime location, in the centre of town where local services and shops are all very accessible. The flats in this development were also built to a very high specification.

High spec flats in prime location

In fact there are over 5,700 flats, in the GU1 postcode area alone. This represents around 39.77% of the housing stock in the GU1 postcode area, with the Guildford average being 19.51% compared to the national average of 17.36%. 

The average asking price of flats with one or two bedrooms in Guildford is around £269,950, which is nearly 3.45% higher than it was 12 months ago. 

You can buy a two bedroom flat, for example in the development on Jordans Close, Boxgrove for a very reasonable £250,000. If a landlord secures the typical monthly rental of £1,100 for a property there, they will manage a gross yield of 5.3%. 

This compares favourably with flats in the Printing House development where one might expect a gross yield of around 3.9%. This is perhaps the reason why many of these flats are let out as serviced apartments achieving £155 per night. Assuming these have (say) an 80% occupancy rate the monthly rental would amount to £3,720 and the gross yield would be as high as 8.5% which certainly would not be achieved when investing in flats elsewhere in Guildford.

Flats attract gross yield of up to 8.5%

Finally, let’s not forget about the potential increase in capital value of the property, which as is always the case, the dominating factor in the Guildford property market.

I was looking at the two bedroom flats in the Faraday Road development recently to discover that they sold for around £183,000, when new, in 2004. This value has almost doubled in the 11 years since (even allowing for the price dip 2007-8), as one was sold for £320,000 earlier this year. Prices will continue to increase for the foreseeable future now that we have a Conservative Government and therefore a pro-property party in power.

Flats in Faraday Rd nearly double in price since 2004

If you would like advice about what could make a good investment, please call 01483 320 207 or email richard@guildfordpropertyblog.co.uk.

Scope for improvement at 3 bed semi, in Merrow Park

This 3 bed semi-detached house will provide an ideal family home for those wanting to live in a pleasant, residential area that can provide local schools, a doctor's surgery, shops and bus routes into town, all on the doorstep.

3 bed semi detached offers scope for improvement

The property is located in Harms Grove, on the popular Merrow Park development, not far from the A3, the road from London to Portsmouth and 2 miles from the centre of town.

Our friends at Clarke Gammon Wellers suggest there is scope to improve the house, with the kitchen and bathroom looking a little dated. This improvement will provide some capital gain, especially if the final offer is reduced to allow for the cost of works.

The property should rent out for £1,500 pcm to provide a 4.7% return.

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-34698468.html

If you would like advice about what could make a good investment, please call 01483 320 207 or email richard@guildfordpropertyblog.co.uk

Modernised 2 bed semi ready to deliver 4.7% gross return

A Merrow Park property was recently featured in the blog and this is another fine example. This 2 bed semi is on the market for £335,000, a little more than a similar property sold for £285,000 earlier this year. However the property sold required some modernisation while this property has been modernised and well decorated with a refitted bathroom and kitchen to save the new owners any work when moving in. There is an enclosed garden with large decking area to enjoy these hot Summer evenings.

Modernised 2 bed semi in Merrow Park, Guildford

Relax in the garden to contemplate a 4.7% gross return

Situated at the entrance to Merrow Park the house is ideal for a young couple or small family wanting to live in a pleasant, residential area that has local schools, a doctor's surgery, shops and bus routes into town, all on the doorstep.

If the buyer opts to rent the property out a gross yield of approximately 4.6% may be expected.

Call 01483 320 207 to seek any advice on what could make a good investment, or to chat specifically about this property before contacting the agents, Seymour, in Burpham.

The property details are available here.

Email: richard@guildfordpropertyblog.co.uk

Save refurbishment costs at Hipley Court, Warren Road

This is a another example of  a flat ideal for investment purposes. As with the recent property in The Meadows this property lies within 10 minutes walk of the town centre but in this instance it is located at the top of the town so is closer to London Road, rather than the mainline, railway station. 

Save money - refurbishment recently completed

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-35045124.html

An immaculate and spacious two double bedroom top floor apartment it is light, bright and airy throughout whilst being presented to the highest of standards having recently been refurbished.  

Hipley Court is located on Warren Road which is a highly sought after road in Guildford because it enjoys extensive views over Guildford and beyond.

The block is situated in the middle of well maintained grounds with large areas of lawn and an array of trees and shrubs. There is a large underground car park to which this property has one large allocated parking space so will attract tenants who both drive or prefer to commute by train. 

The property is leasehold with a lease length of 999 years from 1976 (when the block was built). 

The flat is priced fractionally lower than the one in The Meadows. The rental will be priced at around £1,295, offering an investor a return of circa 4.4%. This does not take account of service charges and ground rent.

Call 01483 320 207 or email richard@guildfordpropertyblog.co.uk to discover the latest property prices in Guildford plus details of our top investment opportunities rarely made public other than to our local network of Guildford property investors.

Probate property to offer investor potential £75,000 uplift

This 3 bedroom detached property requires complete refurbishment, having not been modernised for many years. It is being marketed by our friends at Clarke Gammon Wellers, on the order of the Executor and should be priced to sell quickly.

House in need of complete refurbishment

There is a kitchen but professional advice will be required to ascertain whether the property is mortgageable.

Kitchen needs replacing 

The house is clean and has been cleared but requires re-plumbing, re-wiring, new heating, new kitchen and bathroom facilities, new windows and redecoration throughout so will offer the purchaser a project on which to make money. The asking price is £450,000 but should re-value somewhere north of £500,000. Next door was sold 2 year's ago for £475,000 but is now worth an estimated £525,000. 

The house is located in Stocton Road, an area popular with both young professionals and students so will rent out quickly. It is located across the road from Guildford College. There is also an ageing population that have resided in the street for many years to offer an interesting blend of inhabitants, providing a friendly community. The street is close to Guildford town centre and within walking distance of both London Road and mainline railway stations.

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-35015859.html

If you would like advice about what could make a good investment, please call 01483 320 207 or email richard@guildfordpropertyblog.co.uk

Is it possible to achieve 5% in the centre of Guildford?

If your tenants like the idea of being able to walk along The River Wey for 10 minutes to go shopping in the town centre then they will love this flat, as it has private access onto the River's towpath.

The Meadows is a sought after block of flats because of its proximity to both the River and town centre.

A 5% return is possible in the centre of Guildford

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-52167860.html

This second floor flat is a spacious, light and airy 2 bedroom property in a development with large windows overlooking manicured grounds and views over Guildford. 

The flat is in a condition ideal for renting with the exception of the kitchen. This will need to be modernised. Once this is complete the property will attract a rental up to £1,495 pcm. If the price accepted were (say) £300,000 an investor could expect a gross yield circa 5%, which is a reasonable figure for a property just 15 minutes walk from the mainline railway station.

Once again this does not take into account payments to be made for the service charge and ground rent.

What the agents, Gascoigne-Pees, love most about "this lovely flat is the spacious accommodation, enviable view, brightness, access to beautiful walks and the long lease".

It is therefore likely to receive an offer very soon.

Call 01483 320 207 or email richard@guildfordpropertyblog.co.uk to discover the latest property prices in Guildford plus details of our top investment opportunities rarely made public other than to our local network of Guildford property investors.

Monopoly in Guildford ... How would you play?

A couple of local landlords and I had a discussion about the property market in Guildford, when the subject of risk versus returns arose. We concluded that all landlords are different in the way they play the property game.

Guildford Monopoly Board

One group of landlords is interested in high returns, with a greater risk as regards to the quality of the tenant, so they much prefer the student market. They tend to invest in cheaper property where they can convert reception rooms into bedrooms to maximise their yields substantially.

Other landlords have a preference towards accepting a modest yield/return on their investment in exchange for an increased certainty of finding a quality tenant. They therefore tend to invest in smaller, terraced properties in the centre of town but away from the university, in order to attract the young professional tenant.

Landlords preferring the safest route typically invest in high quality houses within commuting distance of the town centre to attract families wanting access to decent schools including St Peters, in Merrow and George Abbot, in Burpham, for example. 

We also assumed that these landlords were more likely to be accidental landlords having to move away from their current home, for example, while working on a contract located elsewhere, here or abroad. They would therefore be letting out their own home and so they would be happier knowing that so long as their mortgage payments were being covered, they would gain potentially from relatively higher capital gains over time, because their properties were situated in the more desirable areas of the town.

We therefore determined that before these landlords started playing monopoly, it would be a good idea for them to have a game plan to determine what sort of property and area would best suit their investment objectives.

For a low risk investment they might buy in either Burpham or Merrow. Weylea Farm, Burpham, for example, is a popular area for families to rent property as it offers modern housing of all sizes, all built within recent years and located within the catchment area of local schools. If an investor were to purchase a 4 bedroom house in Selbourne Road, off Sutherland Drive, they would achieve an annual yield of no more than 4.2%. 

If a landlord does not mind a slightly higher risk of void periods, or a more varied quality of tenant, they are likely to be rewarded with a higher annual yield, of around 4.8%. This level of risk can typically be taken with Victorian terraced houses around the centre of town, along the Woodbridge Road. For example, Markenfield Road and Dapdune Road attract young professionals because there are local pubs including the Kings Arms and The Stoke, at the end of the road.

If they are a property investor attempting to maximise their rate of return then one of the most profitable areas in Guildford town centre, will be Guildford Park Avenue where annual yields of 7.9%, or greater, are achievable. However investing in this street will potentially be more of a risk as many of the properties here are houses of multiple occupancy. This suggests they have 3 floors, which many of the town houses on this estate do, and accommodate 5 or more people, from 2 or more families. 

This area is sandwiched between the university campus and railway station so attracts students who are often seen staggering home on the nearby Guildford Park Road, returning after a late night at bars and clubs on this side of town. This has created noise pollution which has therefore attracted the attention of the local council.

Secondly, this type of property will always remain an HMO and so never realise the level of capital gain that a property would do in Selbourne Road. Secondly, the property in Guildford Park Avenue is worth less at an average price of £314,788 compared to £523,791, for Selbourne Road.

The game of monopoly therefore very much depends upon a landlord's objective. Do they want to maximise rental income or capital gain? What is their attitude towards risk?

To discuss how much your property is worth or where you should make your next property investment in Guildford, call me for a chat on 01483 320 207 or sign up to The Guildford Property Blog. I should love to hear from you.

Hare Lane Farncombe character property with scope to extend

Having written recently in the blog that property in Farncombe provides a little more for your money, when compared with local towns, Guildford and Godalming, this attractive and charming 1929 character property is a fine example of this.

Modern open kitchen at Hare Lane character property

1929 semi detached property with original features

The three bedroom semi-detached family house, being marketed by Seymours, Godalming, provides a superb open plan double aspect kitchen/dining room with three bedrooms and a reconditioned bathroom upstairs. It offers the keen gardener a pretty, west facing rear garden, designed with a loggia. The property retains some character features too.

Most importantly it is located within 0.2 of a mile of the mainline railway station and village centre so it is conveniently situated.

Furthermore we understand there is scope to extend, subject to the necessary consent being granted, so this will make an ideal investment opportunity, whether the buyer should extend and then sell, or to retain and therefore rent out.

For comprehensive details visit http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-50397844.html

If you would like to have a chat about local property, or a specific investment opportunity, please call 01483 320 207 or email richard@guildfordpropertyblog.co.uk for a chat about where to invest in the local area.

Buy this property without investing your own money

Those with knowledge of how to invest will realise that by using an option to control the property, or a bridging loan they can acquire this property, refurbish it and then have it mortgaged at a percentage of the revaluation so that once all costs have been covered there should be sufficient equity left to enable the purchaser to withdraw all, or most of the cash investment required, to invest in another project, while still retaining ownership of this property.

Potential to extend without investing your cash

This 4 bed house is situated in a small, quiet residential cul de sac within easy reach of Merrow village amenities and the open countryside. There are a number of sought after local schools within walking distance including George Abbot School, St. Peter's Roman Catholic School and Bushy Hill Junior School. There are regular bus services to and from Guildford's historic town centre

The house can be extended, in one of two ways. Either one garage could be converted into a room because the second garage is long enought to accommodate 2 small cars; or the house can be extended, subject to the usual planning consent by building out over the roof of the garages. A new kitchen and some redecoration are also recommended.

Having completed this work this house would appreciate in value to something in the region of £725,000-750,000, in our estimation.

A similar property was sold for £650,000 4 year's ago and another for £625,000, in 2012. Properties have risen by 20.7% in this period of time.

This house is therefore likely to be sold quickly so you need to visit Seymours office, in Burpham, to arrange a viewing right away.

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-50386654.html

If you would like advice about what could make a good investment, please call 01483 320 207 or email richard@guildfordpropertyblog.co.uk

High living in Saxon Gardens, Boxgrove Gardens

This is a delightful property in the Boxgrove Gardens development, built in 2010 around a landscaped green and the former office of the Government department DEFRA. It is therefore sold with the balance of a NHBC Warranty.

As it is designed for a family it is ideally situated within close proximity of some of Guildord's finest schools including the Girls High School plus George Abbott and several junior schools. It is located within a 20 minute walk of the town centre of Guildford so one has the best of both worlds - both town and country living.

London Road station is approximately 1 mile away and Guildford mainline station approximately 1.5 miles as is the A3 connecting to London, the South Coast and M25. There is plenty of green landscape nearby with access to the The Surrey Downs leading off from the rear of the development. and Stoke Park a 10 minute walk away.

The house is therefore ideally suited to a family with children who enjoyed being active outdoors. If the property is rented out it should attain a gross yield of somewhere in the region of 5.5%.

This semi-detached four bedroom, three bathroom modern house occupies three floors with the garage to rear. As it is relatively new it will require no maintenance whatsoever.

Beautifully landscaped gardens in the development

These houses very rarely come onto the market for sale so this one should sell very quickly. Most noticeably the property is on the books of Bourne Estate Agents, Guildford at a price that is very little more than similar properties that were sold 3 year's ago. 

Here is a link to the details - http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-49943851.html

To discuss how much your property is worth or where you should make your next property investment in Guildford, call me for a chat on 01483 320 207 or sign up to The Guildford Property Blog. I should love to hear from you.

Starter flat in Mulberry Court, Merrow Park will deliver 5.3%

This flat is on the books of our friends at Haart, Burpham. It will make a great starter home for a newbie landlord. It is located on the edge of town across the road from Clandon Park, which is a delightful location.

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-51195626.html

Mulberry Court is a pleasant, well laid out development on the Merrow Park development, in Merrow, within a short reach of the A3 London to Portsmouth road and a parade of local shops and doctor's surgery.

The property is sold with a garage and the current vendor is in the process of extending the lease so prior to exchange the property will have 155yrs. 

The property will rent out quickly if priced at £1,000 pcm providing 5.3% gross yield (subject to the annual maintenance charge).

To discuss how much your property is worth or where you should make your next property investment in Guildford, call me for a chat on 01483 320 207 or sign up to The Guildford Property Blog. I should love to hear from you.

Pitch your Place in the queue for this delightful starter home

This is a delightful home which will provide a pleasant lifestyle for it is situated directly opposite the village green in Pitch Place, on the Worplesdon Road. There are some pleasant walks in the neighbouring wooded areas.

As the house is on the outskirts of Guildford it does not take long to reach open countryside but still remains within a short driving distance of Guildford and Woking town centre plus the railway station at Worplesdon for the commute to London. There is a garage for those with a car but for those who require access to public transport there is a bus stop right outside so making the trip into town an easy one.

This 2 bedroom terraced property is being marketed by Hipps, on the Worplesdon Road, and is well maintained but would benefit from some updating. It therefore offers a potential investment opportunity, or great first time buy for those trying to step up onto the property ladder. 

In fact the property is reasonably priced compared with a flat of similar proportions in the centre of Guildford. The current rental for this property is expected to be £1,595 pcm so if the asking price is achieved there will still be a healthy 6.6.% gross yield.

Viewings are highly recommended as this property is likely to go very soon so take a look at:-
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-52646117.html

To discuss how much your property is worth or where you should make your next property investment in Guildford, call me for a chat on 01483 320 207 or sign up to The Guildford Property Blog. I should love to hear from you.

Does Farncombe offer better returns than Godalming or Guildford?

A client living in Godalming has asked what my thoughts were on the town's suitability as a place to buy to let.

The Godalming property market has been slowing down a little over the past quarter following a substantial rise in prices 12 month's ago. However the town is expected to benefit from a resurgence in house price growth in the forthcoming months, now that there is a new pro-property Government in power.

The best advice we can give to those looking to invest in property is our secret trick of the trade. You can judge the affordability of a town by simply finding the ratio of the average property price to the average salary. The lower the ratio, the more affordable property is.

When we put this to the test, we found that Godalming currently has an average property value of around £537,518 with the average salary being £30,118. This is a ratio of 1 to 17.85. Meanwhile in Guildford, where the average property price is £509,223 the ratio of property values to salary is 1 to 15.66, which suggests that property in Godalming is 14% less affordable than in Guildford.

The Pepperpot, Godalming

We also had a look at Farncombe and found the average salary there is £30,118 and the average property value is £291,448. This means that property in Farncombe is 47% more affordable than in Guildford, with a much lower ratio of 1 to 8.3.

This could mean that now is an excellent time to invest in Farncombe. The affordability ratio is lower; and prices are starting to recover though a little bit later than in both Godalming and Guildford. 

A 3 bed semi-detached property in Farncombe can be purchased for as little as £350,000 and let for £1,345 pcm to provide a gross yield of 4.6%. In Godalming £350,000 may only afford you a 2 bed semi-detached property, unless you can locate a 3 bed townhouse to buy, as these do tend to sell for a little less than conventional 3 bed properties. The rental for a typical 2 bed house in Godalming is around £1,195 pcm providing a gross yield 13% lower than in Farncombe.

Guildford might however offer the best investment opportunities. If we keep to the asking price of £350,000 there are several 3 bedroom properties that can be located in the Bellfields area, where one can achieve a rental of up to £1,500 pcm. This will achieve a gross yield of 5.1% which is 10% higher than what is achievable in Farncombe.

To discuss how much your property is worth or where you should make your next property investment in Guildford, call me for a chat on 01483 320 207 or sign up to The Guildford Property Blog. I should love to hear from you.

You can't beat Raymond Crescent as a great investment area

Raymond Crescent has to be one of the best streets in which to invest in Guildford property. Why? Well it is located directly opposite the University of Surrey so is ideal for accommodating students. 

Secondly, it is only a 10 minute walk from The Surrey Research Park, considered to be one of the most successful research parks in Europe as it conducts much research with the University and therefore attracts many of the UK's leading technology companies working in the fields of technology, science, health and engineering, creating high employment in the town.

Raymond Crescent is situated only one mile from the mainline railway station so is ideal for people commuting up to London. It is also located conveniently for the town centre shops, bars and restaurants.

This property is bound to find a buyer very soon as it offers so much for both the property investor and developer. It comprises three bedrooms but offers the potential to be modernised and extended (subject to planning approval) using the space beside the property and the extensive garden to the rear.

It is being marketed by our friends at Townends, for the asking price of £320,000 and will rent out for £1385 pcm, as it stands, to provide a gross yield of 5.2%. A higher rental will be achieved if the house is extended with the purpose of providing shared housing for students, or young working professionals.

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-52595540.html

To discuss how much your property is worth or where you should make your next property investment in Guildford, call me for a chat on 01483 320 207 or sign up to The Guildford Property Blog. I should love to hear from you.

Bray Road - move in without any work required

If you are a family and commute up to London then this 3 bed semi-detached house is perfect as it is located within 10 minutes walk of the mainline railway station.

House has been refurbished throughout to provide modern living
in this delightful 3 bed Victorian house

While the asking price is a little high there is the opportunity to move in without having to do any work whatsoever. This attractive Victorian property has been the subject of refurbishment in recent years but boasts many original character features throughout.

It's also rare in a house of this age and design to have a bathroom plus 3 bedrooms altogether on the first floor but they have managed to do so by sub-dividing the back room into a bedroom and bathroom.

Downstairs provides a light and airy open plan lounge/diner which leads into a well equipped modern kitchen.

Furthermore the garden has been neatly landscaped to ensure more time can be spent enjoying relaxing in the Summer months rather than having to spend too much time maintaining it.

The house is being marketed by Chantries and further details are available at:- 
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-50286001.html

If you would like advice about what could make a good family home or a profitable investment, please call 01483 320 207 or email richard@guildfordpropertyblog.co.uk

23.7% capital gain in Charlotteville, Guildford

Charlotteville was created in the 1860s by a doctor named Thomas Sells. It was named after his wife. As a doctor, Sells named some of the roads after famous doctors known to him at the time including Harvey, Jenner, Bright, Addison.

This area of Guldford is sandwiched between the town centre shopping area and Pewley Down which leads out into stunning countryside. Both areas are within a very short walking distance so this two bedroom house is ideally located for prospective tenants.

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-50236570.html

The property, marketed by Seymours of Guildford, is both clean and newly decorated so is ready for letting out immediately, probably to a young family, or a couple of sharers. The only challenge is that the bathroom is on the ground floor adjacent to the kitchen but this is a reflection of the time when the property was built.

The gross yield will not be substantial but the capital gain will. For example, property values in this street have risen by 23.7% in the last 5 years.

It is for these reasons that this detached property is likely to sell quickly.

To discuss how much your property is worth or where you should make your next property investment in Guildford, call me for a chat on 01483 320 207 or sign up to The Guildford Property Blog. I should love to hear from you.