Canny capital commuters seek better value in Crawley
First time buyers looking to strike the balance between rising commuting and property prices should take a look at Buchans Mead, Countryside’s brand new development in Crawley. It represents fantastic value for money for young professionals commuting into London who are looking to invest in their first home, as commuting costs from Crawley is one of the lowest out of all the Home Counties averaging £3,124 per year .
In contrast, commuters in Sevenoaks, Kent pay the highest cost-per-mile commute for their 40 minute journey to London. A better value alternative is Crawley, which is a similar distance, but the rail fare works out at almost £100 less per year and average house prices are 50% lower at £274,446 .
With prices starting from £290,000 for a three bedroom Balcombe it’s the ideal home for commuters looking to strike the balance between rising rail fare and property prices. Andrew Loveday, Sales and Marketing Director at Countryside explains: “Commuters living at Buchans Mead can expect a 42 minute train service into the capital and receive on average one of the lowest commuting costs compared to other areas around London. Investing in a two bedroom home is the ideal solution for young professionals who want to be sure they are buying in an area that gives them the most value for money.”
“What’s more, buyers at Buchans Mead can make their purchase here even more savvy with the Help to Buy scheme, which is available to purchasers who put down as little as a 5% deposit, which for a Balcombe starts at just £14,500. The Government will provide an equity loan of up to 20% of the purchase price, interest free for the first five years, all of which helps to boost the deposit total, and make monthly mortgage repayments more affordable.”
The Balcombe is a three bedroom house with spacious living accommodation, comprising an open plan kitchen / living / dining room which features French doors opening onto the rear garden and a cloakroom on the ground floor. Upstairs there are two double bedrooms and one single bedroom and a family bathroom.
Finished to an excellent specification, properties at Buchans Mead offer contemporary fitted kitchens featuring handleless driftwood effect base and tall units, stone coloured wall units and contrasting laminated worktops with upstands. A range of integrated appliances includes an electric oven and microwave, gas four ring hob with silver glass splashback, extractor hood, fridge / freezer, dishwasher and washer dryer.
The bathrooms are fitted with white sanitaryware with contrasting oak finish bath panel and countertop, silver and glass bath screen and complementing chrome taps.
Any extra money worries are taken away for buyers, as each home on the development comes with a range of additions as standard. Buyers can expect a fully integrated fridge freezer, dishwasher and washer/dryer. The high quality specification includes flooring laid throughout, an enclosed rear garden with patio and turf, and a landscaped front garden with shrub planting.
Green open spaces are never far away from Buchans Mead in Crawley for residents to find the ideal spot to relax with a picnic. Nearby Buchan Country Park boasts 170 acres of woodland, heath and meadow whilst Bewbush Water Gardens offers even more tranquillity with a large ornamental pond, water gardens and corn mill close by.
Also nearby is Tilgate Park, a wonderful public space set in 400 acres and winner of the national Green Flag Award. It attracts more than a million visitors each year and stages a wide range of events, from dragon boat racing on the lake to a green fayre.
From nearby Crawley railway station it is less than an hour into Central London. A 24 hour bus service with direct links to Gatwick airport stops just outside the development and for trips to the South Coast, Brighton is just 22 miles away making it easily accessible for a day at the seaside or to enjoy the nightlife.
Crawley itself has been the subject of a recent makeover that has attracted bars, clubs, pubs and restaurants. The recently opened Pavilion retail development in Queens Square adds to the hugely popular County Mall.
In Crawley Leisure Park is Crawley Health Club, run by Virgin Active, and K2 a state of the art leisure centre which is just 2 miles away. This impressive venue offers a huge range of facilities, including the only Olympic sized swimming pool in the south of England outside of London. There’s also a climbing wall, badminton and squash courts, a fully equipped gym, outside pitches and a floodlit athletics stadium.
Prices for a three bedroom home start at £290,000. Through Help to Buy, purchasers will need a £14,500 deposit and a mortgage for £217,500, with the government loan providing the remaining 20%. Buyers wishing to book a viewing on the properties should visit buchans-mead.co.uk.
