Guildford or Woking. Which is the more attractive option?

For those readers who are homeowners in the Guildford and Woking areas we are constantly asked by property owners "Is it better to live in Guildford or Woking?" The next question is should you invest in Guildford or Woking when it comes to making decisions about which town will maximise your return on investment. 

Which town should we invest to maximise our return?

Both are attractive towns but for different reasons. One might be considered more pleasurable to live in; whereas the other might provide a better rate of return for an investor, so let's see.

Guildford's historical High Street

Guildford is renowned for its historical High Street and the pretty villages surrounding the town whereas Woking, is been better known for the writer, HG Wells and his novel "The War of The Worlds", the McLaren the motor racing team and manufacturer; plus the town's large housing estates and rather tired-looking shopping centre, which is currently undergoing work to make it more attractive. 

Guildford will always be considered the more attractive of the two towns so people will prefer to live there, if it's affordable for them.

Woking under attack from aliens in The War of The Worlds

Woking is more attractive for commuters travelling up to London, for example. It has a direct non-stop train link to London Waterloo with a journey time of under 30 minutes, compared with an average time of 38 minutes from Guildford, plus a coach link to Heathrow Airport, for those travelling abroad. Executive homes with large gardens and plenty of green areas are located within a mile of the railway station, to further reduce travelling time for those travelling to work by train. 

So the question that is always on the tip of everybody’s tongue is this. “Is my house worth more if I live in Guildford or Woking?”

The average property value in Guildford is currently £510,911 and in Woking it is a slightly lower £446,331, whilst the average asking price for rent is £2,422 per month in Guildford and £1,816 per month in Woking. This gives both towns a typical average gross yield of 5 to 5.5%. 

I have done a little research to compare the two seemingly similar towns, in more depth. 

Investing in property is all about how much you buy the property for. You make your money with your buying value, rather than your eventual sale value. Over the last five years, property values in Guildford have increased by 18.37%. so this is great for those that have already bought a property in the town. When I looked at the property values in Woking over this time, I found they have risen by a slightly higher 20.64%, so you might think that Woking would have been the slightly better location to have invested your money in, over this time period. 

On closer reflection Woking's base price was slightly lower than Guildford's so the town may have been in the process of "catching up" and this is in fact demonstrated by a comparison of the increase in property values over the last 5 years. The average price in Guildford has increased by £79,293, while the figure for Woking is £76,353, suggesting there has been barely little to choose between the two towns when looking at property prices from the perspective of a capital gain. 

However it might be interesting to see whether Woking prices continue to increase at a faster rate in the future, so watch this town ... 

If you would like our opinion on where or what to buy, feel free to have a chat by calling me on 01483 320207 or sending an email to richard@guildfordpropertyblog.co.uk

It is not just academic, this property in Raymond Crescent

This modern and fresh looking 3 bed semi-detached property is on one of my favourite streets, in Guildford because it is situated across the road from the University. However it is not just suited to academics but also professionals working in the local Surrey Research Park plus local companies including Phillips and Allianz. 

The A3 London to Portsmouth trunk road is also just up the road and the mainline railway station is 20 minutes walk away.

3 bed semi detached house near the University of Surrey

The property has been recently modernised and decorated so is ready to move into and is therefore likely to be very popular with prospective purchasers.

The house is being marketed by emoov.

Further details are available at http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-35692491.html

If you would like to have a chat about property prices in Guildford or a general discussion on investment opportunities in the area your call will always be welcome. Phone 01483 320207 or email richard@guildfordpropertyblog.co.uk

A country residence in Echo Pit Road not far from town

Please excuse me but today I may be in dream land. This property may therefore have been selected for emotive rather than logical, financial reasons.

This period property may well be a little over-valued but it is ideally located in substantial, well manicured grounds of 2/3 acres, in one of the most expensive streets close to Guildford town centre. It overlooks the beautiful Chantries Woods and is situated not far from the entrance to the North Downs Way, where one can cycle, run or walk for miles in an area of outstanding natural beauty.

Life is great in Echo Pit Road near The North Downs Way

The opportunity here is for the new owner to be able to modernise the house and to therefore stamp their personality upon it.

The property consists of four bedrooms, kitchen/breakfast room, dining room, formal sitting room and a ground floor annexe which contains a large studio room. The sale is being handled by our friends at Clarke Gammon, in Guildford and the details are available at:-
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-35676945.html

If you would like to have a chat about property prices in Guildford or a general discussion on investment opportunities in the area your call will always be welcome. Phone 01483 320207 or email richard@guildfordpropertyblog.co.uk

Enjoy life in a bungalow, at Fairlands

While we tend to concentrate on the investor when reviewing current properties on the market, this property might be an exception to the rule as it is ideally suited to the retiree or couple whose children have left home.

This chalet bungalow has been modernised and extended to provide three sizeable bedrooms (two of which have been built into the loft area). The bungalow is situated on the Fairlands development which is ever popular with this population demographic as it is primarily a development of bungalows. 

There is also a strong community feel to the place as people meet up at the local parade of shops and also the community centre. Everything is close at hand. If local residents need to go into Guildford town centre, about three miles away, then there is a regular bus service to take them there.

This very well presented chalet bungalow comprises a spacious lounge, dining room, bathroom, double bedroom and a re-fitted kitchen on the ground floor while the first floor contains two further bedrooms and second bathroom. There is a garage and a decked area ideal for entertaining during warmer weather. 

A three bedroom chalet bungalow at Fairlands, Guildford

The property is likely to sell very soon. Further details can be found at:-
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-53751467.html

If you would like to have a chat about property prices in Guildford or a general discussion on investment opportunities in the area your call will always be welcome. Phone 01483 320207 or email richard@guildfordpropertyblog.co.uk

A fine example of a delightful property at Boxgrove Gardens

Further to our recent article on the Boxgrove Gardens development I have discovered a prime example of a house on the development that will sell quickly. It is being marketed by our friends at MSE, in the centre of Guildford.

Enjoying a tree lined setting, this is a very well appointed 3 double bedroom luxury townhouse with 2 bathrooms (1 en-suite), situated in this prestigious area close to delightfully restored period gardens. 

The location is ideal for local private and state schools on this side of Guildford. The town centre is just 15 minutes walk away or a short bus ride so will suit families. The local train station, at London Road is not far away so the owner could be at his desk in London, within a short time.

As the property is relatively new it is well fitted with modern fixtures including bedroom wardrobes and freshly decorated.

The terraced house on the Boxgrove Gardens development

Outside the property are the established gardens comprising numerous mature screening shrubs and established roses to enjoy throughout the year, in addition to having access to Merrow Downs.

A 4 bed house in nearby Saxon Gardens, also on Boxgrove Gardens was on the market recently for £650,000 so at £495,000, this 3 bedroom house would appear to offer execellent value.

More information is available at:- http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-50956501.html

If you would like to have a chat about property prices in this area or a general discussion on investment opportunities in Guildford your call will always be welcome. Phone 01483 320207 or email richard@guildfordpropertyblog.co.uk

Summer living in Woodbridge Hill Gardens, Guildford

Having experienced a warm spell recently its wonderful to discover a house like this in which one can enjoy the feeling of "Summer", throughout the year. This property has been extended to provide a kitchen/family room which opens out into the garden, allowing the owners to experience the warmth of Summer from within the property. 

Summer living at Woodbridge Hill Gardens, Guildford

It is well located too. Situated on a green with a small group of houses providing peace and quiet, it is only a couple of miles from the town centre, via car or bus.

If the asking price is accepted and the market rent is achieved a landlord might expect a gross yield of around 5%. However I expect the property is more likely to be purchased by a family looking for a lot of house in exchange for the price agreed.

This property is contemporary and spacious so no further work is required by the new owners and is therefore likely to be popular so we recommend you visit Cobbles, the agent, as soon as is possible if you wish to arrange a viewing.

Further information is available at: http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-53673590.html

If you would like to have a chat about property prices in this area or a general discussion on investment opportunities in Guildford your call will always be welcome. Phone 01483 320207 or email richard@guildfordpropertyblog.co.uk

Can you benefit from both capital gain and reasonable gross yield, in Guildford?

A landlord became ever more curious about the Guildford town centre Buy to Let market after reading our articles about various localities in Guildford, so decided to call to ask for my advice.

One particular property in Brodie Road, off Syndenham Road, a street that runs parallel with the High Street,  we looked at recently was a small 2 bedroom semi-detached property, purchased for £307,500 in 2013. The house was completely refurbished, with a new rear kitchen extension, to bring it up to a standard to suit today's modern lifestyle. It was sold again for £480,000 back in March, this year. It had therefore increased by 56%, in just two years. 

Brodie Road property price rises by 56% in just 2 years 

However, prices in the town rose by just 13.5% during the last two years, so it should have sold for just £349,412, if it’s price had kept inline with the town’s average house price growth.

In another example, of an impressive price rise, a one bedroom flat in the Rosetrees development off Warren Road, sold for £168,500 in the Autumn of 2013 and then resold a couple of month's ago for £245,000. This is a rather impressive rise of 45% which, once again was based around the property having received a makeover. This price also compared favourably with the 13.5% average price growth for Guildford town centre, over the last two years.

45% price increase for a flat in Rosetrees

In the case of Brodie Road the gross yield from renting it out today would be 4% suggesting that there could be better investments to be made in Guildford, if looking for a reasonable yield. However the flat at Rosetrees would deliver a reasonable 5.8% at today's rental valuation (less the monthly standing charge) so proves that a first time investor acquiring a flat for buy to let could enjoy a double whammy, with both a reasonable yield and a significant capital gain, even in Guildford where capital gain is more likely than a high gross yield.

Our passion lies firmly within the residential property market, so whether you are searching for a reasonable gross yield or capital gain, please talk to us at any point if you want to chat about investment opportunities in our diverse area.

Please call 01483 320 207 or email richard@guildfordpropertyblog.co.uk for a chat about where to invest in the local area.

Family living at Parkview Vale, Merrow Park

Merrow Park has featured in several of my recent articles because it offers such a pleasant area in which to live on the edge of town, with lots of local facilities nearby, so houses in this location are always in demand.

This is another fine example of a family property that is bound to be snapped up very soon. Located in a quiet cul de sac, comprising just 15 houses, it offers peace and quiet plus somewhere for the children to play, yet offers easy access to the A3 London to Portsmouth Road plus London Road railway station for commutes up to London.

Family living in Merrow Park

The property is a 3 bed link-detached house with spacious accommodation including a separate dining area adjacent to the kitchen. It also offers a garage.

Further details of this property being offered by Gascoigne Pees, in Merrow can be located at http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-53650649.html

If you would like to have a chat about property prices in this area or a general discussion on investment opportunities in Guildford your call will always be welcome. Phone 01483 320207 or email richard@guildfordpropertyblog.co.uk

Broadacres offers open plan living and a 5.3% return

This an excellent example of a potential investor property where size is not everything. If sold for the asking price and a market rental is achieved, at around £1,450 pcm, the owner will have a gross yield of 5.3%, which is a reasonable return for Guildford.

This rental would be ideal for a young family wanting to live in a modernised, well presented three bedroom terrace home that provides excellent, open plan living accommodation. The bathroom has also been newly-refitted too. There is an enclosed, rear garden which is ideal for kids to play in. A garage is available in a nearby block to provide parking or extra storage.

Modern living in Broadacres, Guildford

Gascoigne Pees, in Worplesdon are marketing this property and further details can be located at http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-35564766.html

If you would like to have a chat about property prices in this area or a general discussion on where the current investment opportunities are in Guildford your call will always be welcome. Phone 01483 320207 or email richard@guildfordpropertyblog.co.uk

House in Little Platt has potential to be a big investment

This 3 bed semi detached house in Little Platt is being marketed by Hipps, on Worplesdon Road. This will be a very hot property attracting a lot of interesting so wish to bring it to your attention right away. It has the potential to deliver both a reasonable rate of return and capital gain.

Earn a reasonable 5% or extend the property for a greater return

It is priced at a little less than similar sized properties in the area as it is in need of updating. It has a plot of land sufficient in size to build an extension subject to planning permission, so could make a sizeable shared dwelling for students at the nearby University of Surrey, or for professionals working at the Surrey Research Park. 

If the house is rented in its current state it will achieve a rate of return in the region of 5% but if extended to enable (say) a further 2 bedrooms then one might expect a return as much as 10%.

It will therefore make an ideal investment opportunity for little more than a two bed flat in the centre of town.

Further details of this fantastic investment opportunity can be found at - http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-53524775.html

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

Do semi-detached properties in Merrow Park make good investments for Buy to Let?

I was talking to someone who lives in a large detached house on the Merrow Park development. He wants to purchase his first Buy to Let property and has noticed our rental index and previous articles, so was interested in getting to know a little bit more about where he should invest to achieve a favourable gain.

As he has lived in a road off Kingfisher Drive, in the Merrow Park area for over 8 years, he now feels comfortable with the idea of investing there as he knows the development well, so we started to discuss the property market in Merrow Park. 

Kingfisher Drive, Merrow Park provides many investment opportunities

Firstly, we found that 145 semi-detached houses have sold in Merrow Park since the year 1999. Property values in Guildford have risen on average by around 171% over the last 15 years but most semi-detached properties on the Merrow Park have beaten that rise. 

Typical 3 bedroom houses in Tychbourne Drive

When we look back to 1999, a three bedroom semi-detached property in Tychbourne Drive, Merrow Park was purchased for £136,000 and sold in 2007 for an impressive £296,000. With excellent capital growth you would expect yields to be comparatively low, but most three bedroom properties on Merrow Park can be picked up from £350,000 to £415,000 and could have achievable rents of £1500 to £1750 per month. This means annual yields can be around a reasonable 5.5%.

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.

A potential 10% gross yield in Larch Avenue

This property is one of those where you can hear the sound of a cash till ringing in your head. It is a landlord's dream house! Hipps should therefore have no challenge in selling it.

The property has been extended to provide an extra bedroom upstairs to provide four; plus a studio at the rear of the property with its own kitchen, bathroom and living area. This has its own entrance so could be let out separately to a tenant preferring to have their own accommodation.

An investor's dream property located in Larch Avenue

The remaining rooms could be let out separately as the house is located in an area that is popular with young sharers as it is a relatively short walking distance into town. They would have access to both a bathroom and a downstairs shower room saving queues in the morning rush to leave for work. There is a substantial kitchen/diner more than big enough to enable four sharers to cook and eat together.

There is a workshop in the garden which is likely to be suitable for protecting bikes and ample parking at the front for those with cars.

Furthermore the property has been recently modernised so there is absolutely no work required and in fact a small premium could be charged for the rentals to reflect the quality of decoration and fittings. There is no forward chain so a purchase could be finalised in no time allowing the investor to start realising a return on this investment right away.

If the lounge area is used as a fifth bedroom to rent out in addition to the studio my estimation is that the total rental income before expenses could be as great as £3,750 pcm. This would provide the investor with a gross yield, based upon the asking price of £434,950, somewhere in the region of 10% which would surpass many other typical investments in the area. This property will therefore be irresistible to investors.

You can check the details here:- http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-53348780.html

If you would like to have a chat about similar investment opportunities in Guildford your call will always be welcome. Phone 01483 320207 or email richard@guildfordpropertyblog.co.uk

Climb the property ladder in Hazelhurst Close, Burpham

This is the perfect starter home for those aspiring to climb the property ladder. Firstly, it is located just off the A3 so it is easy to travel in and out of Guildford for the daily commute, yet is in a quiet cul de sac of just 14 houses, surrounded by trees and greenery. The road comprises a mix of properties including several larger 4 bed, 3 bath houses to which one could move as the family grows. 

The semi-detached property has two bedrooms but one has an ensuite so the second bedroom can have full access to the family bathroom, which will be ideal for visitors.

The house is ideally located for the George Abbott School, for when the children grew older. The Burpham Sainsbury store is located on the other side of the Weybrook development, within a 5 minute walk.

The property is being marketed by our friends at Haart, in Burpham, so with a competitive price of £330,000 it is likely to be sold quickly. Take a look at the details for further information http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-52372514.html

If you would like to have a chat about property prices in this area or a general discussion on where the current investment opportunities are in Guildford your call will always be welcome. Phone 01483 320207 or email richard@guildfordpropertyblog.co.uk

Stylish living at Queen Elizabeth Park

It is always a pleasure to discover, and then recommend to my readers, a property on the Queen Elizabeth Park.

Not only is the environment especially pleasing, with a village green and woodland areas surrounding modern, stylish properties but there is a sense of history relating back to the post war years, as the parkland has been built on the land of a former barracks.

This style of property is especially functional as it is based on three floors to provide spacious living comprising one bedroom with en-suite plus two further double bedrooms and a large open plan lounge/diner.

A terraced 3 bed house in Hopkins Close, QEP

This modern, well presented mid terrace house positioned within a cul-de-sac, and overlooking an attractive central green is being marketed by Seymours, on the Worplesdon Road and is likely to be sold very soon, as the development is an understandably popular place to live with excellent facilities including schools and a leisure centre, on the door step and therefore ideal for families.

Further information and images are available at: http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-50835034.html


If you would like to have a chat about property prices in this area or a general discussion on investment opportunities in Guildford your call will always be welcome. Phone 01483 320207 or email richard@guildfordpropertyblog.co.uk

A project to deliver 8%, in Denzil Road

Three day's ago I wrote a blog regarding the potential Denzil Road has to offer to investors wanting to invest in student multi-let properties, just a short walk to the town centre and mainline station plus the University of Surrey campus. 

This property is being marketed by Chantries agency and is a prime example of this and has plenty of potential for the investor. It is a semi-detached 4 bed house with a basement plus a bathroom and WC both accessed from the end of the kitchen, on the ground floor. 

The agent states that "the property could do with a degree of modernisation and requires work/updating in places". My initial thoughts are, subject to seeking a survey and planning permission, to relocate the bathroom to bed 4 located directly above the current bathroom so plumbing should not be an issue. The current bathroom could become an extension to the kitchen where doors could be installed out into the garden to provide more light. This area could become a dining area too.

Current layout at Denzil Road for a potential student property let

The ground floor reception room has two doors and is spacious enough to be split into two to allow one bedroom plus a separate communal TV area.

Finally the cellar, is sufficiently big enough to become a bedroom with an ensuite if the cellar is habitable and if plumbing can be installed in this area of the house. The cellar may need to be tanked to insulate it. There is a window there already so it has ventilation. 

This recommendation should provide at least 5 rooms for let and a potential rental of at least £3,000 pcm to provide an 8% gross yield, based upon the current asking price (excluding the costs of building and modernisation works).

The property owner will have to seek a HMO license as the finished house will accommodate 5 people, from 2 or more family units, over three floors. 

This is definitely an ideal house for those looking for an ambitious project.

Further information is available at http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-48168388.html

If you would like to have a chat about property prices in this area or a general discussion on where to invest in student properties in Guildford your call will always be welcome. Phone 01483 320207 or email richard@guildfordpropertyblog.co.uk

Student properties outperform single lets by up to 40%

A landlord with a small property portfolio approached me last week. He lives on the outskirts of Guildford, in Cumberland Avenue, where he has a few 4 bed houses let to young professionals. He was curious as to whether he could invest in the centre of town and let the properties to students, and therefore increase his rate of return in doing so. If so, he wanted to ask my opinion on which street should he buy his next Buy to Let property.

We studied a number of streets located within the area in which students tend to rent their houses, adjacent to the University of Surrey entrance at the Guildford Park Road end of the campus, and closest to the mainline railway station plus town centre bars and restaurants. These were Denzil Road, Guildford Park Avenue, Lynwood and the slightly more expensive Bray Road. 

We then selected typical student properties in preference to single owner-occupier homes. In most cases these are 3 bed houses built with sufficient space to enable a reception room downstairs to be utilised as a bedroom. Some of the properties in Guildford Park Avenue are townhouses so have room to provide up to two additional bedrooms though the rent tends to be comparatively lower on a room by room basis, due to the area being beside the railway lines and a little rundown.

A typical student townhouse in Guildford Park Avenue

Looking at Guildford Park Avenue townhouses are £330,475 but the average rent is only £1750 per month. The gross yield in Guildford Park Avenue will therefore be lower than in Denzil Road, at around 6.4%. Nevertheless, this is still 25% more than he achieves now in Cumberland Avenue. 






In Denzil Road, the average property price can be a reasonable £375,950 and the average rent is typically, £2,250 per month. In  The yield in Denzil Road is likely to be 7.1%.

Denzil Road achieves 7.1% when houses are let to students

It made me consider two other streets close by, Lynwood and Bray Road. These streets are both a little more expensive but rents are typically the same as in Denzil Road. In Lynwood, the average property price is £415,450 and the average rent is £2,250 pcm. Houses in this road could therefore achieve a yield of 6.5%.

Lynwood attracts students as it is adjacent to the University Campus

The average price of a property in Bray Road is higher at £474,200, with rents of around £2,250 per month. My landlord could therefore expect to achieve a yield of 5.7% per year.

Bray Road is more residential yet still attracts students

It goes to show that the student area within Guildford can be a good area for an investment property, compared with our investor's chosen area, but it is a decision that shouldn't be taken lightly. These are only averages, and while the properties, as stated, are all very similar in size and layout in these respective streets, there will be anomalies.

However the smaller 3 - 4 bed properties in this area of Guildford can achieve yields in the range of 5.7% to 7.1%, which tends to be higher than in most other areas of Guildford town centre. 

If you want to know our thoughts on property investing in the streets around the University of Surrey, or elsewhere in Guildford, then please call 01483 320 207 or email richard@guildfordpropertyblog.co.uk for a chat about where to invest in the local area.

Town centre investment property off The Mount

For those that like to live in town yet a little distance from all the hustle and bustle then this is a lovely bright and spacious two bedroom apartment that is ideally located. It is situated just off The Mount, a 5 minute walk from the pubs and restaurants, shops and railway station in Guildford town centre.

Investment property off The Mount with views looking over Guildford 

The property is in an elevated  position and features a large balcony overlooking the town plus well maintained communal gardens plus a garage and off street parking. It will make an ideal investment property to rent out to professionals communting to London and should produce a gross yield before all other costs are accounted for, of 4.9%.

The agents are Seymours, in Guildford town centre and further details are available using this link - http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-50796067.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

An excellent opportunity to move into the Boxgrove area

This must be one of the most popular areas in Guildford for families with young, or teenage children wanting to move into a pleasant area within a good school catchment area, for a reasonable price.

Boxgrove has a number of excellent state schools including Boxgrove Primary, St.Peter's Catholic School and George Abbot Secondary School on its doorstep so demand is always high and especially for a reasonably sized property with the potential to extend, as the family grows.

Boxgrove Lane - 4 beds detached house with approval to extend

This property is on the market with our friends, Seymours, in Burpham for £635,000 but may be worth more if advantage is taken of the planning approval, already granted, to extend on both floors, to increase the number of rooms and to provide a more modern property that enjoys dining as if out in the garden.

This property is therefore expected to go very quickly. In the meantime further information is available at:- http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-50783476.html

To discuss this and other investment opportunities in Guildford, or to discuss prices in general, please call me on 01483 320207 or email richard@guildfordpropertyblog.co.uk

A little haven at John Russell Close

This 2 bed property is situated close to a number of bus routes into town and to the mainline railway station but is also just 10 minutes drive from open countryside. It is also located in close proximity to local shops and a petrol station so is handy for working people keen to live a little way from the centre of town in order to enjoy some peace and quiet.

A little haven in John Russell Close, Guildford

The close is well landscaped with grass verges and a number of mature trees. The beauty of this property is while it may be a maisonette it has the appearance of a house so should attract tenants easily. It also has its own private garden at the rear plus an allocated parking space.

The property should rent out for approximately £1,200 pcm and therefore attract a rate of return in the region of 5.3% so if interested, the agents are Callards, on the Worplesdon Road and the link to further information is:-
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-53187980.html

To have a chat about investment opportunities in Guildford, or prices in general, pick up the phone and call me on 01483 320207 or if you prefer email me at: richard@guildfordpropertyblog.co.uk

Property located in the village of West Clandon ideally suited to landlord living

For landlords looking to purchase a property out in the country but within easy reach of both Guildford and Woking then this property, located in West Clandon, will suit the bill well.

This is a spacious family home with versatile accommodation located within easy reach of the London to Portsmouth A3 plus Clandon railway station so is likely to be popular to those who travel by train or car to London. The house has been extended to provide a larger lounge area. The kitchen has been fitted to a modern standard. There is a conservatory/breakfast room with views over the garden. There is a further reception room that has potential to be a computer games room, or a TV room, so all the family's leisure requirements can be catered for. 

Live the life of a landlord in West Clandon for £1,295,000

There is a gallery landing including a window overlooking the front garden. The master bedroom suite is a large enough to include an en-suite and a wonderful walk-in-wardrobe/dressing room. The guest bedroom comprises an en-suite shower room plus built in wardrobes too plus a window over-looking the garden. There are three remaining bedrooms all providing good sized accommodation.

Planning permission has been granted for an open bay double garage. 

The agents are Seymours, in Ripley and further details are available using this link - http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-50775397.html

Want to have a chat about Guildford properties suitable for a landlord or a property investor? Call me on 01483 320 207 or drop me an email richard@guildfordpropertyblog.co.uk

A charming property with development potential in Merrow Street

It's wonderful to come across a property like this from time to time. This is an Edwardian semi-detached 3 bed house being marketed by Gascoigne Pees, in Merrow. 

It offers an attractive opportunity to a serious developer. It is both located on a reasonably sized plot and is in need of modernisation so offers the potential buyer the opportunity to make a decent capital gain. For example, if extended, subject to gaining planning approval, to provide a larger kitchen and additional bedroom similar to modern 4 bed properties in the area and matches their typical values, the property might be worth at another £100,000, at today's asking prices.

Merrow Street character property with development potential

The property is in a sought after location in Merrow Street which has an olde world charm about it compared to other developments in the area. There is a parade of local shops and a doctor's surgery nearby.

It is located within the catchment area for some of Guildford's best schools including St. Peter's Catholic and George Abbot. There are also excellent road links to the A3 and M25.

Further information can be found at http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-34064199.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

Boxgrove Gardens developed for town and country living

This delightful development has been built on a former Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) site. This development was a highly successful example of where disused public land can be developed to create desirable, well designed new housing for people to enjoy in an area where they want to live.

Honoured by a visit from David Cameron and Nick Clegg 

The Boxgrove Gardens development was held up as such a fine example, that it was selected as a location for both The Prime Minister, Rt Hon David Cameron MP and his Deputy, the Rt Hon Nick Clegg MP, to visit in 2011 to announce the Government's new Housing Strategy, underpinned by the new mortgage initiative Help to Buy, for new homes, providing 95% loan to value mortgages.

This 199 home sustainable development, less than a mile from Guildford’s High Street, is an award-winning example of mixed tenure with 70 homes built for shared ownership and affordable rent.

The stylish development has quickly become one of Guildford’s most desirable new neighbourhoods, with houses built with airy conservatories, timber detailing, spacious balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows surrounded by lush, green, modern gardens.

4 bed semi detached featured in a recent blog

The development comprises superb one and two-bedroom apartments plus prestigious three, four and five-bedroom signature houses, The centrepiece is Uplands House, a historic former country manor. This has been converted into stunning apartments overlooking the beautifully, landscaped gardens.

Uplands House converted into flats and adjacent to stunning gardens

Three large oak structures now enhance the grounds of Boxgrove Gardens thanks to the Council, artist Roger Day and developer Linden Homes. The sculptures, collectively called Connected Living, highlight the public right of way that passes through the site to Merrow Downs. Each sculpture has an opening that people can look through, leading them to the next sculpture and the countryside beyond.

Connected Living sculpture by Roger Day

It generally takes only a short amount of time to let properties on this stunning development. Tenants consider the proximity of both Merrow Downs and Guildford town centre to be an advantage. In one moment you are shopping in a bustling High Street and the next strolling through the countryside with views over Surrey and into West Sussex. A recent blog featured a four bed semi-detached property in Saxon Gardens on the market for £650,000. A three bedroom end of terraced property is currently available for an asking price of £499,995.  A two bed flat would be priced at around £325,000.

As the development was built only recently, in 2010, these properties will offer an excellent standard of accommodation built to recent building codes and so will rent out quickly. The rent that could be achieved for the four bed semi is £2695 pcm; £2,225 pcm for the 3 bed house and around £1,525 pcm for the two bed flats. This means investors can potentially expect yields of around 5% to 5.5% per year.

Whether you have already done a search for property, or are trying to figure out where to start, we’re happy to advise on properties before you buy, to let out. It’s in your interest that you purchase something that can let quickly, whether you are currently one of our clients, or not, so if you would like advice about what could make a good investment, please call 01483 320 207 or email richard@guildfordpropertyblog.co.uk