The Spectator featured an article about the prime country house market this week, which included comments from Property Acquisitions. In the article, we highlight the sorts of properties that are struggling to sell, as buyers become price sensitive in the current market. However, this really does depend on the house and its location. The good quality homes are still selling fast.
Read the full article here if you are a Spectator subscriber.
We are delighted to spot our director, Jennie Hancock, in four prestigious magazines published by Conde Nast this month – House & Garden, Vogue, GQ and Tatler. The local housing market has turned from being price led to the ability to purchase, highlighting the importance of being a cash buyer when looking for a prime country house. The magazine explains how having a buying agent like Property Acquisitions on board is so important in the current housing market.
Our Director, Jennie Hancock, has been featured in The Times today in an article about downsizing. Property Acquisitions were asked to help pinpoint the number of households downsizing, the kind of properties they tend to move to and from, reasons for moving and popular downsizing locations. We were also asked if any of our clients would be happy to speak with The Times about their downsizing journey. Luckily, and very gratefully, one of our buyers said yes, and so we are delighted to see that she (Karen) is the lead story in the piece.
Whilst Jennie said:
“The age of the traditional downsizer is starting to fall to as low as the 50’s. If you look back to ten years ago, the retirement scenario tended to be that somebody worked in the city, retired and then life (and an income) came to a complete stop. However, I believe the working from home element has helped people re-evaluate how they live and what they live in. This means those in their 50’s are taking advantage of the opportunity to retire far slower over a five to ten year period, where they can still have a salary or an income.
Lifestyle is very important for downsizers now, fitting a house choice into it. A lot of focus is on health and wellbeing, highlighted through literature that people have read during covid times. Dog walking, walks with friends and family, watching the polo, golf – these are gentle ways of being active but still a wonderful way to explore the South Downs and beyond. These activities can also double up with social events. For example, if a downsizer is buying in the Petworth and Midhurst patch, they can combine their wellbeing activities with lunch or coffee on the local high streets or surrounding villages. There are some superb pubs such as the Three Horseshoes in Lickfold and The Noahs Ark Inn in Lurgashall, whilst Cowdray Farmshop & Cafe is a very popular choice too. Plus the coast isn’t too far away. This makes the idea of downsizing earlier far more attractive. It also helps release more of the lovely large country houses far earlier than usual, which will be good for the property market.
These downsizers tend to buy smaller houses, losing a bedroom and a bathroom, and reducing their garden size. They want the prime villages that surround Chichester, Midhurst and Petworth, where they have great access to pubs, a village store, fetes, theatres and so on, alongside great country walks. Lock up and leave is also important so that they can travel more. Covid-19 has brought about a desire to explore more of the British Isles, not just overseas, which people see in a completely different light now.”
Our Director, Jennie Hancock, has been quoted in a downsizer property piece in today’s Telegraph. It’s a very interesting topic, for which Jennie says:
“There’s a big shift of the older generation (60-75’s) looking to downsize now. They are living in big beautiful houses that they have owned for 25-30 years, but the energy crisis has caused them to rethink the number of bedrooms and reception rooms they don’t use anymore, as it’s costing them a lot more in oil, gardeners, cleaners and council tax for example. They’re now leaning towards modern housing, and EPC ratings will be of huge importance for the future. Downsizers don’t want the expense of modernising a home themselves when prices of builders and materials have escalated, therefore the homes they seek tend to be new builds, a conversion or a modernised home. It’s all driven by wanting to make life simpler and less expensive, and with the spare funds from their house sale, many plan to help their children step onto the property ladder or realise funds for retirement.
“I’m hearing from various sources that discussions are happening with such homeowners, with a view to selling in Spring 2023, which is the traditional time to be selling these types of houses. The benefit to the market is this will release much needed good quality homes in the £1.5-£3million bracket, replenishing the local housing market where they have been in shortage for a very long time.”
Read the full article here (paywall)
Negotiations are back, as the balance of power shifts from sellers to buyers. The Spectator magazine talks about this topic in their latest issue, and our very own Jennie Hancock at Property Acquisitions is delighted to have been quoted in the piece. It offers a really good insight into how to increase your chances of having an offer accepted.
Here are some of Jennie’s thoughts when haggling on price…
Our Founder, Jennie Hancock, had a good chat with journalist Tim Palmer recently at The Times, as to why she thought Chichester is a great area to retire to. Today the piece was published, and Property Acquisitions are thrilled to have been quoted. Tim describes Chichester as the best place for wellness, which Jennie completely agrees with. It’s a perfect area for retirement, because you can either have the Vicar of Dibley lifestyle in a village such as Bosham, where there’s always something going on at the church or village hall, or you can live in a little Georgian house that’s an easy walk to the theatre or M&S.
Read the full article here (paywall)
Our Director, Jennie Hancock, chats about second homes market in West Sussex in today’s Sunday Times. Read the full article here (paywall).
Property Acquisitions share our thoughts on the downsizer market in today’s Independent, following a phone interview last week.
Read the full article here.
Our Director, Jennie Hancock, is often asked by the press for her thoughts on the local property market. Recently, she was asked to explain why buyers love West Sussex as a whole, and why Chichester is a good city to be buying a property, to support a data led piece on the hottest and coldest markets. This has led to various press coverage such as Property Reporter and Sussex World.
Our Director, Jennie Hancock, provides her thoughts on the harbour village of Prinsted, which appeared in the Daily Telegraph today. The piece is about the top 20 villages that have seen the biggest price growth over the last 20 years. When asked about the area, what type of homes are there and who the buyers are, Jennie said:
“Prinsted sits in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and being a picturesque harbour village, is popular with sailing fraternity due to its easy access to Thorney Island and Hayling Island, with Thornham Marina close by too. Due to its countryside surroundings, there’s plenty of walks and wildlife to enjoy the beautiful scenery too, giving a feeling of peace and tranquillity. A particularly nice walk is from Prinsted to Nutbourne Bay which follows the Chichester Harbour shoreline and is a good one for bird watching at low tide on the mud flats. Whilst Chichester Harbour can be reached in five minutes. Many purchasers buy here because of the sailing waters of nearby Emsworth which also has a good selection of shops and restaurants, plus the popular The Blue Bell Inn. There’s also a train station a mile away which connects residents to Gatwick airport, London Victoria and Southampton, whilst there are good road links to Chichester. This, combined with a good variety of properties from small modern homes to historical period cottages where some offer wonderful views over the harbour, Prinsted therefore attracts a wide range of buyers from weekenders to families and downsizers who are seeking escapism from the hustle and bustle of life.”
ADDRESS
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Chichester, West Sussex PO18 9AH
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