The UK property market is starting to cause more of a stir as we start to see house prices slide. It is also widely expected that house prices will come down in 2023.
For opportunist buyers, you may be considering whether now is a good time to buy a house and what are the up and coming areas to buy in the UK. You may also be interested in our article looking at the top 10 areas immune to a house price crash.
Research from money.co.uk revealed East Cambridgeshire, Eden and Bolsover were the top three places to buy a house - taking into account property price growth, business growth, the number of young people moving to the area, transport links and regeneration.
Subscribe to MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE
Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Whether you’re a first time buyer, looking to buy for your child, or want to be an buy-to-let landlord, then these are the top 10 up and coming UK areas to buy in.
Top 10 up-and-coming property areas in the UK
East Cambridgeshire ranked first, with a score of 8.14/10. “The area has seen a massive property price growth of 16.5% over the last 12 months,” the report stated.
“This is coupled with reasonable 5-year regeneration figures, where income has increased by 4.5%, employment by 1.5%, and poverty decreased by 0.5%.”
Eden in Cumbria scored 7.99/10, with property price growth of 17.9% over the past year. And despite a negative change in business in the area annual income has risen 5.9% over the last five years.
The market town of Bolsover in the northeast of Derbyshire scored 7.80/10, recording the second-highest increase in business of all local authorities in Great Britain. Property prices also rose 14.9% over the last year.
The top 10 areas to buy in
| Rank | Local authority | Annual house price change | Annual income change | Annual employment change | Up and coming property score /10 |
| 1 | East Cambridgeshire | 16.5% | 4.5% | 1.5% | 8.14 |
| 2 | Eden | 17.9% | 5.9% | 0.8% | 7.99 |
| 3 | Bolsover | 14.9% | 2.8% | 1.4% | 7.80 |
| 4 | East Devon | 17.3% | 5.1% | 2.7% | 7.78 |
| 5 | Argyll and Bute | 25.0% | 3.9% | 0.0% | 7.75 |
| 6 | Warrington | 20.4% | 6.1% | 1.3% | 7.58 |
| 7 | Dover | 16.8% | 5.9% | 1.2% | 7.55 |
| 8 | Stockport | 17.1% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 7.47 |
| 9 | West Lindsey | 15.5% | 2.0% | 2.3% | 7.30 |
| 10 | Broadland | 14.7% | 4.9% | -1.0% | 7.23 |
Source: Money.co.uk
Bottom 10 up-and-coming property areas in the UK
As well as the top 10 areas to consider, there’s also a top 10 you may want to avoid.
Data from money.co.uk annalised 353 local authorities. The bottom 10 was mostly made up of London boroughs.
Kensington and Chelsea ranked 353, with an annual house price change of -4.2%, an annual income change of -100%, and a -0.1% increase in annual employment. Overall, it scored just 1.24/10.
Hammersmith and Fulham in west London saw annual house price change of -6.5%, an annual income change of -32.7% and just a 0.9% increase in the annual employment rate.
Harrow in north west London saw a record 12.6% increase in house prices, as well as 1.2% growth in annual wages, but it did have a -0.8% decrease in annual employment.
Low scoring areas to buy in
| Rank | Local authority | Annual house price change | Annual income change | Annual employment change | Up and coming property score /10 |
| 344 | Camden | -3.5% | -4.7% | 1.2% | 2.37 |
| 345 | Aberdeen City | -2.4% | 0.1% | -2% | 2.31 |
| 346 | Redbridge | 6.3% | 1.3% | 0.4% | 2.14 |
| 347 | Westminster | -9.4% | -7.4% | 1.8% | 2.14 |
| 348 | Ealing | 4.6% | 2.5% | -1.5% | 2.06 |
| 349 | Tower Hamlets | 10.3% | 0.7% | 0.1% | 2.02 |
| 350 | Sunderland | 8.7% | 2.1% | -0.3% | 1.94 |
| 351 | Harrow | 12.6% | 1.2% | -0.8% | 1.92 |
| 352 | Hammersmith and Fulham | -6.5% | -32.7% | 0.9% | 1.68 |
| 353 | Kensington and Chelsea | -4.2% | -100% | -0.1% | 1.24 |
Source: money.co.uk
-
Why now is the right time to invest in biotechThe biotech sector holds huge potential for investors, with strong growth and attractive valuations. Here's the best way to play it.
-
Zoopla: Busiest home buying May since 2021, but property asking prices slideBuyers return to the market after the end of higher stamp duty thresholds and post-Easter lulls, but average sales are £16,000 below asking price
-
Halifax: House price slump continues as prices slide for the sixth consecutive monthUK house prices fell again in September as buyers returned, but the slowdown was not as fast as anticipated, latest Halifax data shows. Where are house prices falling the most?
-
Rents hit a record high - but is the opportunity for buy-to-let investors still strong?UK rent prices have hit a record high with the average hitting over £1,200 a month says Rightmove. Are there still opportunities in buy-to-let?
-
Pension savers turn to gold investmentsInvestors are racing to buy gold to protect their pensions from a stock market correction and high inflation, experts say
-
Where to find the best returns from student accommodationStudent accommodation can be a lucrative investment if you know where to look.
-
The world’s best bargain stocksSearching for bargain stocks with Alec Cutler of the Orbis Global Balanced Fund, who tells Andrew Van Sickle which sectors are being overlooked.
-
Revealed: the cheapest cities to own a home in BritainNew research reveals the cheapest cities to own a home, taking account of mortgage payments, utility bills and council tax
-
UK recession: How to protect your portfolioAs the UK recession is confirmed, we look at ways to protect your wealth.
-
Buy-to-let returns fall 59% amid higher mortgage ratesBuy-to-let returns are slumping as the cost of borrowing spirals.
