Four seaside hotspots for home-hunters
Do you dream of living beside the seaside? Plenty of us do, especially at this time of year.
And for those that no longer have a regular commute, working from home with a view of the sea seems like a pretty great option.
In the past couple of weeks, we’ve seen a huge increase in the number of home-hunters searching for properties in seaside locations of all sizes, from glitzy millionaires’ enclaves to tiny fishing villages.
Take a look at some of the most popular spots:
West Wittering, West Sussex
Average asking price: £731,718
Increase in weekly searches: 43 per cent
West Wittering is one of the prettiest seaside villages on the south coast of England. Its award-winning sandy beach lined with beach huts is also pretty gorgeous, and on a clear day you can see over to the Isle of Wight. You might even bump into Kate Winslet, a long-time resident.
Home-hunters can choose from a great range of property, from Georgian manor houses, to modern beachfront villas, cottages, and bungalows. There’s a small village hub with a couple of shops and a pub, but Chichester’s theatre, shops, and restaurants are only up the road, as is the Chichester Harbour Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Search for properties for sale near West Wittering
Camber, East Sussex
Average asking price: £375,122
Increase in weekly searches: 35 per cent
Camber boasts five miles of glorious dune-backed beach, perfect for wind and kite surfing, walking, or just hanging out. It’s a small, scenic area with a couple of pubs, a few cafes and shops, and a golf club.
But the lovely town of Rye is half an hour away, where you will find plenty of shops and restaurants, plus schools and a station. And, just north of the coast, is Romney Marsh, a stunning expanse of open space dotted with pretty villages.
Here you’ll find a mix of bungalows, post-war terraced and semi-detached houses, with some contemporary beach houses springing up, too. There’s also a development of weather-boarded, New England-style houses.
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Sandbanks, Dorset
Average asking price: £1,445,795
Increase in weekly searches: 33 per cent
The south coast’s answer to Malibu or the Hamptons – and frequently included in league tables of the world’s most expensive real estate – this narrow peninsula of sandy beaches is one of the most exclusive coastal enclaves in Britain. This is seaside living, luxury style.
There are yacht clubs to join, luxurious waterfront beach houses (if you need to ask how much they cost you probably can’t afford one), and plenty of high end shops and restaurants.
Locals refer to Sandbanks as “the village”, citing its great community spirit, but it also attracts plenty of tourists in summer.
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Seaview, Isle of Wight
Average asking price: £442,144
Increase in weekly searches: 28 per cent
Seaview sits on the north coast of the Isle of Wight, and just east of the town of Ryde. It’s on the opposite side of the Solent from West Wittering. Residents here enjoy peaceful winters and lively summers, when tourists converge on this Edwardian seaside resort.
There are a trio of local beaches to enjoy – Springview, Seaview, and Seagrove – and plenty of chances to try your hand at sailing and water sports. Seaview has a good range of gastropubs and cafes, as well as a great park with tennis courts. The coastal walks around the island are spectacular.
Seaview has a really good stock of Edwardian redbrick houses, which would be ideal for family buyers. Some have been converted into flats, which would make a perfect lock up and leave weekend bolthole.
