Market downturn proves an upturn for investors

The property market downturn is not all bad news: for shrewd buyers seeking to invest in their future, falling prices are a real opportunity.

Returning to the UK from France where they have lived for the past five years since taking early retirement, Roger and Joy Poppy took advantage of the decreasing property prices and have purchased a four-bedroom ‘Capston’ house-type at Halyards Place, Hailsham, by Barratt Southern Counties.

Roger Poppy said: “We first came across Halyards Place on the internet last year whilst we were still in France. We were looking for a detached house and couldn’t find anything suitable on the ‘second hand’ market - all the homes that were large enough for us needed so much work doing to them and, having converted a barn into our current home in France, we wanted something we could just walk straight into.

“We first visited Halyards Place when we returned from France in November 2008 but, as property prices were still falling, we decided to wait. We bought our home in early 2009 for £250,000 – making a saving of just under £30,000 on last year’s price. Thanks to the price drop, we were able to buy our home for cash and pay off our mortgage completely.

“We are so glad we bought a brand new home. As our house wasn’t finished when we bought it, we were able to choose the kitchen and bathroom and put our own stamp on it without the hassle of changing it ourselves.”

Joy Poppy continues: “We decided to return to the UK because we wanted to be nearer our children and grandchildren. We also found we greatly missed the British way of life.

“Our house is perfect for us and our family: all the rooms are spacious and with a kitchen and living room, four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a cloakroom as well as a large garden, we can have our family to stay without feeling cramped or crowded – you can’t often say that about new homes!

“East Sussex was our first choice of location as we wanted a quiet area near the coast and countryside. Our family is in Tunbridge Wells and Gravesend so we visit there a lot and now we have our free bus passes, we can go to places like Brighton and Eastbourne easily!

“Hailsham is a great place and we’ve found new hobbies since moving here – we’ve taken up bowling and swimming at the local leisure centre and we’ve also found some lovely pubs. We enjoy walking and plan to go on the ‘cuckoo trail’ which is a disused railway line from Heathfield to Eastbourne. It’s really flat so it’s great for walking and cycling.”

Halyards Place comprises 22, two, three and four-bedroom houses which take their architectural inspiration from the East Sussex cottage-style vernacular and will contribute to the character of the area.

Hailsham is an attractive town with a wide range of amenities, shops, eateries and entertainment. The High Street is home to a Waitrose and a selection of household names as well as boasting a number of boutiques and specialist shops. Adding to the variety are two weekly markets, monthly farmers’ and a crafts market.

Adjacent to the town is the National Nature Reserve, the Pevensey Levels, a low-lying tract of largely reclaimed wetland framed against the distinctive backdrop of the South Downs and home to some of the rarest species of birds and plant life in the UK.

Commuters will appreciate the convenient road and rail links to the town: Polegate station, four miles from Hailsham, provides frequent direct trains to London Victoria, Eastbourne and Hastings. The railway journey to Eastbourne only takes ten minutes, whilst the journey to London takes approximately 90 minutes. By road, London Gatwick Airport is a just under an hour away via the A22 and A23 and Newhaven Harbour with regular ferries to France is accessible in a little under half-an-hour.

Prices at Halyards Place start from £215,995 for a two-bedroom home. For further information visit barratthomes.co.uk.