Newbury - anybody live here, lived here? Open discussion...

[LeeZ4MR]

I didn't know you've been a Mansfield boy Lee!!

Sure have OG!

 

[StevenH72]

Hi StevenH72,

First off I should say that I'm not a property expert, so it's just my opinion. I bought a few places in London over the last couple of years and so Crossrail was a big factor when I was looking. Bottom line is good transport links count - you'd be mad to think they don't - and Crossrail should certainly deliver. But when I bought, I looked at other things as well: what the area is like now, what sort of people are moving in and why. If you look at the figures across London, Crossrail has made an impact but other areas in other boroughs have done just as well only for different reasons. The reason I think that the price differences will be marginal is that I can't envisage Reading for example going up by, say, 30% over the next 5 years but another town in the SE with good transport links only going up by 15%. My suspicion is that it will be a lot closer than that. The percentages are figures I've just plucked out of the air by the way! A recent report by Rightmove tips Southampton, Brighton and Luton to be the biggest risers over the next 5 years. But whether that's because they're wonderful places to live, have great connections to the capital or are just starting from a low base line is anyone's guess...

Obviously Reading will be a later phase on Crossrail but a lot of the rises have already been priced in. Maidenhead for example has risen considerably over the last 18 months. If it were purely capital gain - forget rental returns, forget what sort of tenants you'll attract (if you're a landlord of course) and forget what it's like to actually live there - then I wouldn't disagree with your strategy of focusing on Crossrail stations. I think that's a wise move. I'm just saying that there are other factors to consider, especially if it's somewhere you're going to live.

Completely agree, and seems a very sensible approach. We are predominantly looking at three areas: Guildford (where we live now, has excellent commuter links, is a very nice town and always seems to see decent rises), Reading (Crossrail and where I'm from, so know the area well, where to avoid etc.) and Brentwood (down the road from where the missus is from, and will also be getting Crossrail).

Brighton was an area we were considering, but due to unfamiliarity with the area we had been shying away slightly....might dig a little deeper.

 

[strugglinauthor]

Hi StevenH72,

First off I should say that I'm not a property expert, so it's just my opinion. I bought a few places in London over the last couple of years and so Crossrail was a big factor when I was looking. Bottom line is good transport links count - you'd be mad to think they don't - and Crossrail should certainly deliver. But when I bought, I looked at other things as well: what the area is like now, what sort of people are moving in and why. If you look at the figures across London, Crossrail has made an impact but other areas in other boroughs have done just as well only for different reasons. The reason I think that the price differences will be marginal is that I can't envisage Reading for example going up by, say, 30% over the next 5 years but another town in the SE with good transport links only going up by 15%. My suspicion is that it will be a lot closer than that. The percentages are figures I've just plucked out of the air by the way! A recent report by Rightmove tips Southampton, Brighton and Luton to be the biggest risers over the next 5 years. But whether that's because they're wonderful places to live, have great connections to the capital or are just starting from a low base line is anyone's guess...

Obviously Reading will be a later phase on Crossrail but a lot of the rises have already been priced in. Maidenhead for example has risen considerably over the last 18 months. If it were purely capital gain - forget rental returns, forget what sort of tenants you'll attract (if you're a landlord of course) and forget what it's like to actually live there - then I wouldn't disagree with your strategy of focusing on Crossrail stations. I think that's a wise move. I'm just saying that there are other factors to consider, especially if it's somewhere you're going to live.

Completely agree, and seems a very sensible approach. We are predominantly looking at three areas: Guildford (where we live now, has excellent commuter links, is a very nice town and always seems to see decent rises), Reading (Crossrail and where I'm from, so know the area well, where to avoid etc.) and Brentwood (down the road from where the missus is from, and will also be getting Crossrail).

Brighton was an area we were considering, but due to unfamiliarity with the area we had been shying away slightly....might dig a little deeper.

All great areas and I think you won't go wrong with any of them. I'd steer clear of pundits' predictions anyway - they invariably get it wrong! Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[jamiez]

I didn't know you've been a Mansfield boy Lee!!

Apologies for minor thread diversion Jamie!

LOL - no worries, i spent 10 years of my youth in Sutton in Ashfield (small world!)

 

[jamiez]

Hi StevenH72,

First off I should say that I'm not a property expert, so it's just my opinion. I bought a few places in London over the last couple of years and so Crossrail was a big factor when I was looking. Bottom line is good transport links count - you'd be mad to think they don't - and Crossrail should certainly deliver. But when I bought, I looked at other things as well: what the area is like now, what sort of people are moving in and why. If you look at the figures across London, Crossrail has made an impact but other areas in other boroughs have done just as well only for different reasons. The reason I think that the price differences will be marginal is that I can't envisage Reading for example going up by, say, 30% over the next 5 years but another town in the SE with good transport links only going up by 15%. My suspicion is that it will be a lot closer than that. The percentages are figures I've just plucked out of the air by the way! A recent report by Rightmove tips Southampton, Brighton and Luton to be the biggest risers over the next 5 years. But whether that's because they're wonderful places to live, have great connections to the capital or are just starting from a low base line is anyone's guess...

Obviously Reading will be a later phase on Crossrail but a lot of the rises have already been priced in. Maidenhead for example has risen considerably over the last 18 months. If it were purely capital gain - forget rental returns, forget what sort of tenants you'll attract (if you're a landlord of course) and forget what it's like to actually live there - then I wouldn't disagree with your strategy of focusing on Crossrail stations. I think that's a wise move. I'm just saying that there are other factors to consider, especially if it's somewhere you're going to live.

Completely agree, and seems a very sensible approach. We are predominantly looking at three areas: Guildford (where we live now, has excellent commuter links, is a very nice town and always seems to see decent rises), Reading (Crossrail and where I'm from, so know the area well, where to avoid etc.) and Brentwood (down the road from where the missus is from, and will also be getting Crossrail).

Brighton was an area we were considering, but due to unfamiliarity with the area we had been shying away slightly....might dig a little deeper.

So great points here and I do agree with everything that has been said. And yes agree on the factors in the way put by strugglinauthor.

Further research says that the train line from Newbury to Paddington is going to be "Electrified" and the trains will be the new Japanese bullet trains - however, they just say the journey will be "faster"

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2175511/Japanese-bullet-trains-Blow-British-industry-Government-puts-1billion-order.html
http://www.networkrail.co.uk/great-western-route-modernisation/

 

[LeeZ4MR]

I didn't know you've been a Mansfield boy Lee!!

Apologies for minor thread diversion Jamie!

LOL - no worries, i spent 10 years of my youth in Sutton in Ashfield (small world!)

Agree it is a very small world for sure!

 

[strugglinauthor]

Further research says that the train line from Newbury to Paddington is going to be "Electrified" and the trains will be the new Japanese bullet trains - however, they just say the journey will be "faster"

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2175511/Japanese-bullet-trains-Blow-British-industry-Government-puts-1billion-order.html
http://www.networkrail.co.uk/great-western-route-modernisation/

Cool - I didn't know about the new bullet trains. They just need to make the tickets affordable now!

 

[original guvnor]

I didn't know you've been a Mansfield boy Lee!!

Apologies for minor thread diversion Jamie!

LOL - no worries, i spent 10 years of my youth in Sutton in Ashfield (small world!)

Agree it is a very small world for sure!

Superb Jamie and Lee! I consider you part of the brotherhood from now on!!