THE property market is on the move. House prices are beginning to nudge upwards, developers are returning to building sites with renewed confidence – and the number of first-time buyers has reached a ten-year high.

As we reported in Property Press last week, the number of first-time sales rocketed in the first half of 2013 – up 19 per cent on the same period last year.

A majority of those sales came in the new homes market, boosted by Government initiatives aimed at helping first-step-on-the-ladder buyers to afford mortgage deposits. But there are also signs that there is increasing movement in the resales section of the property market.

Kevin Coundon, York branch manager with William H Brown, says: “There is definitely a change and we are seeing more first-time buyers arriving onto the market.”

There are a number of reasons for this renewed confidence. Mortgage lenders – and building society and mutual lenders in particular – are beginning to relax their tight hold on mortgage funds.

The average amounts needed for deposits is beginning to fall – from the high of 25 per cent which was providing a huge stumbling block for many young house-hunters, with some lenders looking to proceed on 95 per cent deals.

And, says Kevin, the fact that the market generally is becoming more buoyant is also persuading first-timebuyers that now is the time to move.

“Because prices are beginning to rise again, first-time buyers are thinking that they need to get on the ladder now while they can get value for money.”

Estate agents are also, it should be said, becoming more imaginative in the way they provide services for those first-time buyers.

Kevin’s William H Brown group, for instance, has an independent mortgage consultant in its York office – and has come up with a highly-useful Head Start scheme, under which first-time buyers are given a Head Start card and are helped to attain a “mortgage in principle” from one of a variety of lenders.

This means that once buyers spot a house they like they can move quickly... and that is vital.

Because our research this week shows that when properties do come up in the first-time buyer price bracket, they can be snapped up very quickly.

So, what is available in York in the first-time buyer price range in the resale sector? We looked at the average first-time buyer price in England and Wales and found that it presently rests at around £173,000.

We also decided to concentrate on houses rather than apartments at or below that figure. So, starting close to the £173,000 average and in descending order, here are some smart first-time buyer picks...

 

Station Square, Strensall.

Price: £170,000

Overview: An immaculately presented modern semi-detached house in a quiet square close to the heart of Strensall village with its excellent primary school and good range of local amenities.

Accommodation: The house itself offers a good-sized living room, a large dining kitchen, two double bedrooms and a house bathroom.

Plus points: A very light and airy property with deep sash-style windows to two sides in the living room and main bedroom.

Contact: Hudson Moody.

 

Poppleton Road, York.

Price £170,000

Overview: A superb, characterful period home, laid out over three floors and, having had a smart upgrading programme, giving a great opportunity to potential first time buyers who want a home with style and history but without the need for modernisation.

Accommodation: A brilliant example of an updated period home which blends the best of the traditional with contemporary comforts.

Stripped floorboards mix with period-style fireplaces, tiled floors with high ceilings. Yet the kitchen and bathroom facilities are nice and modern. The house offers a large through lounge dining room, both areas with stripped floors and with the lounge area having a feature fireplace and a kitchen with a range of wood-effect base and wall units with granite effect worktops and a smart breakfast bar. On the first floor there are two double bedrooms and a house bathroom and separate WC, while there is a third bedroom to the second floor.

Outside there is a courtyard garden.

Plus points: If you are the kind of people who love a home with period character allied to contemporary comforts then this is definitely one for you to consider.

Contact: Your Move Ansombs.

 

Viking Road, York.

Price: £169,950

Overview: Set in a popular location to the west of the city with good access to the city centre, outer ring road and local amenities.

Accommodation: This is a spacious house, larger than most firsttime buys, which has been wellmaintained and well-presented. On the ground floor there are two good-sized reception rooms, one to front and one to back, a fitted kitchen, WC and useful wash room. On the first floor you have three bedrooms and a house bathroom.

Set on a good-sized corner plot the house has lawned gardens, a garage and driveway parking.

Plus points: The complete package for either a couple or a family with lots of room and with good gardens.

Contact: Ashtons.

 

Foss Court, Huntington Road, York.

Price: £155,000.

Overview: Another nicely-positioned home, close the city centre, hospital and Nestles factory, with plenty of light and airy rooms and a good garden – and in ready-tomove- into condition.

Accommodation: “Move into condition” say the agents of this one, with the present owners having “presented the house to a fantastic standard both internally and externally”. We’d agree. It’s a very nicely-presented home with lots of light and bright spaces and stylishly decorated. On the ground floor there is an entrance hall, a pleasant sitting room which runs through to a kitchen which in turn has French doors opening to the rear garden – so there is a nice flow to the rooms. The kitchen has the advantage of a range of integrated appliances including an induction hob and electric ovenUpstairs, the master bedroom has a range of built in Sharps furniture and there is a second bedroom and a house bathroom.

Above, a loft provides extensive storage space. Outside the house is approached by a path through a lawned garden, while at the back there is a private, cleverly-landscaped garden with different paved, gravelled and lawned circular areas.

Plus Points: Handsome house to look at from the outside and a pleasant one to view internally. And that landscaped garden is a definite bonus.

Contact: Naish.

 

Eden Close, Woodthorpe, York.

Price: £152,950

Overview: A pretty modern townhouse, again within easy reach of the city centre, and again nice to look at inside and out.

Accommodation: Here you have a through living/dining room which runs to almost 20ft in length before arriving at the kitchen. The living room has a modern fireplace with marble surround and hearth incorporating a gas fire at its centre and has added character touches including coving to the ceiling. The breakfast kitchen is nicely fitted with a range of fitted wall and base units and has a door to the rear garden. Upstairs, there are two bedrooms and a house bathroom.

Plus points: Light, bright modern home with lawned gardens to front and back, nicely presented throughout.

Contact: Hudson Moody.

 

Hayforth Close, Clifton Moor, York.

Price £150,000

Overview: Great example of a smart, very modern and very convenient home with a nice garden and conveniently placed for local amenities and shopping centres.

Accommodation: We really liked the smart clean lines of this house, the living room and kitchen in particular.

The house is the end of a row of just three properties and has a private driveway to the side leading a lawned rear garden with a west-facing patio area. The ground floor here offers an entrance lobby, beautifully-presented lounge with gas fire and a dining kitchen with a range of modern wall and base units and smart tiled flooring and a door opening onto a pleasant rear garden. On the first floor there are two double bedrooms, one to front one to rear, and a house bathroom.

Plus points: This is a really smart modern home, beautifully presented and with a very pleasant garden.

Contact: Your Move Anscombs.

 

Emily Mews, off Lawrence Street, York.

Price: £149,950

Overview: A modern townhouse with gardens front and back and less than ten minutes walk from the city centre. “Great first time buy property” say selling agents Quantum. “It’s smart and ready to get up and running.”

Accommodation: On the ground floor there is a lounge, kitchen with a range of fitted units and door out to the garden. Upstairs there is a master bedroom and second bedroom and a house bathroom.

Plus points: The house is tucked away in a quiet development yet very close to the city centre and with gardens and off-street parking to boot.

Contact: Quantum.

 

Star Buy Of TheWeek

Fossway, Heworth, York.

Price £120,000

Overview: This one may be last in our round-up but it is definitely not least. It’s the right house in the right spot for the right money.

Beautifully presented internally, it is a smart maisonette which backs onto the golf club and so has pleasant outlooks. It also has a bonus in the shape of a third bedroom or games room.

Accommodation: There is a ground-floor entrance hallway to the side of the property which includes a large storage cupboard.

Up the stairs to the first floor and here you find another hallway with laminate flooring off which there is a modern country style fitted kitchen with white Shaker-style wall and base units and contrasting work surfaces; appliances include a built-in oven. Oh, and there’s a window with views out over the golf course... This first floor also includes a master bedroom and bathroom and a good-sized lounge with an attractive Adam-style fireplace and hearth. And there’s more... on the second floor there is a further bedroom and that useful third bedroom/games room.

Plus points: An excellent offering with plenty of room for both living and sleeping and in a superb spot.

That’s why this one gets our ‘star buy’ award this week. As the agents say: “The absolutely ideal first-time buyer home.”

Contact: William H Brown.