Manager of Boyce Thornton, Robin Ball, provides a snapshot of the property market in the well-known Surrey village.
Cobham, Surrey is an affluent village located approximately 17 miles south west of central London. Properties for sale in Cobham and properties to rent in Cobham are perfectly situated for commuters because the area boasts excellent rail links, including a direct route to London Waterloo in less than 45 minutes. Road links include junctions of the A3 and M25.
At the heart of Cobham is a bustling town centre offering a wide range of boutiques, coffee shops and restaurants catering for all tastes. Cobham’s best known landmark is the much photographed watermill located just beyond the southern end of the high street, which along with the adjacent water meadows provides a picturesque backdrop to the village centre.
With several of Surrey’s most highly regarded schools on hand, including two of the four ACS International Schools and the new independent, publicly-funded Cobham Free School, Cobham is certainly an ideal location for all families with children.
Equally abundant are recreational facilities including golf courses and health clubs, not to mention the many miles of unspoilt Green Belt countryside nearby. This all makes Cobham ideal for anyone keen on walking, cycling or horse riding. In recent years Cobham has also become known as the home of Chelsea Football Club’s Training Ground with a number of well-known footballers setting up home here.
According to the most recent census, Cobham has around 4,500 properties, of which approximately a third are detached. Property types include everything from modest flats and smaller houses to trendy Victorian cottages, characterful semi-detached and detached homes.
The largest properties tend to be new or recently built, situated on private gated roads or estates with some offering in excess of 8000 sq ft of accommodation. Popular features in newer homes include under floor heating, solid concrete floors and integrated wiring for media. At the top end of the market, properties may boast a home gym, indoor swimming pool or even a cinema room.
Typical Cobham buyers include long-term residents who are keen to stay in the area, or families moving out from London attracted by the above benefits. There is also a buoyant buy-to-let market due to a strong demand for rented properties for one-bedroom flats to large family homes.
Local property prices are a hot topic of conversation. According to recent research featured on the BBC website, the average property price is £1,043,000, making Cobham the second most expensive town in the UK outside London. As an approximate guide, the average prices for different types of property in Cobham are as follows: £1,500,000 for a detached house, £660,000 for a semi-detached, £480,000 for a terraced home and £427,000 for a flat.
Local property trends tend to reflect the London market and 2015 has seen a mixed picture with a high rate of stamp duty due to a slowdown of the top end of the market, whilst less expensive properties continue to perform extremely well. May’s General Election also had a dampening effect with concerns (unfounded as it turned out) about a possible “mansion tax” holding the market back. The second half of the year has seen a general improvement and most people are optimistic about the prospects for 2016.
Overall, Cobham continues to be a highly desirable area with those already living in the village reluctant to leave and many others aspiring to move here.
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