A Through The Keyhole Look At City Living
A walk through the heart of Preston City centre and you will see there are at least a dozen buildings being converted to ‘luxury’ apartments. Winckley Square and the adjoining streets are welcoming tens of millions of pounds being invested to create luxurious city living. Helen Sanderson took a walk through one of the wealthiest neighbourhoods in town with property expert Matt Eastham
Preston may be the North Wests third city but Matt Eastham of Eastham’s & Co, the longest established letting and management company covering the PR and FY postcodes, explained why now may be the time to embrace city living.
Matt said: “Preston is enjoying a boom thanks to the City Living initiative and there are lots of new apartment schemes. Those on and near to Winkley Square are just stunning. A number of these developments have roof gardens that overlook the city, concierges and gyms. Each one is a beautiful home but also makes attractive investments as they are currently a fraction of the prices of a similar apartment in Manchester and Liverpool.”
More and more people are embracing city living and Preston has become a real alternative to its neighbouring cities.
Matt explained: “£430million is being invested in infrastructure as part of the City Deal. We have 500 hectares of parks, green spaces, wildlife habitats, play areas and allotments within the city including the award-winning City Centre historic Avenham and Miller Parks. The Lake District or the Yorkshire Dales National Parks are a 45-minute drive whilst on our doorstep is the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the varied Lancashire coastline. Four major motorways intersect at Preston giving motorway access from all points of the compass and our capital city is just a two-hour train journey.”
As well as apartments blocks the grand old houses overlooking Winckley Square are being returned to their former glory. The beautiful East Cliff Gardens is one such property that has become a luxury home again after many years as an office.
The prestigious triplex townhouse has stunning views over Avenham Park. The exclusive apartment is set over three floors and furnished to an extremely high standard. The property consists of two double bedrooms, both with ensuites, huge open plan living area, a modern fitted kitchen/diner and a study area. The property has secured gated parking.
Homebuying: Is there really a financially
best time to buy?
Buying a home is one of the biggest investments we make in our lives. However, while the average house price in the UK is valued at £249,633, the cost of mortgages among other factors means that the total cost of the home-buying process can vary between individuals writes Ella Pumford at St. Mowden Homes
Even then, house prices continue to rise year on year. In England, house prices have increased by 7.6 per cent in the past year. Competition spurred on by the housing crisis may mean that this increase is set to continue. This raises the question: when is the best time to buy?
‘Immediately’ is not always the answer. The true cost of a house will depend on your personal finances when you buy, and it can vary depending on which financial schemes you use to help you on your homebuying journey. Jumping into a sale too soon can cost more than it is worth.
Here, we explore the options for buying your house, what schemes you can take advantage of, and when to buy your home.
On 3rd March 2021, Rishi Sunak unveiled his latest budgetary plan for the nation. Included in this were schemes for home buyers which may make the process of climbing the property ladder easier for many people.
The Stamp Duty holiday extension reduces the tax paid when buying properties. Under this scheme, homebuyers will only pay stamp duty on properties above the value of £500,000. This scheme was set to end on 31st March 2021. However, the Government has extended this until 30th June 2021.
Buying a property within this timeframe could save homebuyers up to £15,000 before the tax break ends.
The sale of properties must be completed before the 30th June deadline. However, the opportunity to save on Stamp Duty could be extended based on your buying choices. One national housebuilder, St. Modwen Homes, has its own Stamp Duty holiday extension which is available on a selected number of homes until 30th September 2021. Buying a new build property with this company can help you save thousands beyond the Government’s June deadline when you buy houses in Eastwood or houses in Newton-le-Willows, among many other locations.
The housebuilder has also launched a new ‘Mortgage Paid’ offer for those buying a new-build home. Available on selected homes at developments across the country, the company will essentially pay up to six months of your mortgage. So, if you’re ready to buy now, it may already be the best time! The offer is only available for a limited time, but being six months mortgage free could save you thousands.
