Guide to Southampton Property

Introduction - on this page you will find links to details of property for sale, rental accommodation, shared housing in Southampton...  Southampton is an historic city on the South Coast of England, in Hampshire. It is situated very close to the New Forest Bournemouth, Romsey and Portsmouth. Across the water one can see Southampton from Hythe. From Hythe looking out to the Southampton docks one can see the large cruise liners depart and arrive.

Property in Southampton - properties are varied in and around Southampton. Most properties in the centre of town are new build or converted flats and apartments, however further a field there are Edwardian terraced homes and along the Avenue, side roads are filled with 30's large detached houses. As one goes from the Avenue into the area of Chilworth, houses become ever larger and more expensive, considering they are close to the M3 and links to London this is not a surprise. Of course being on the Coast and having a large Dock, ferries, such as the Isle of Wight ferry are frequent. Cruises to the USA, Europe and Scandanavia are frequent from Southampton, and often leave port with a bang, such as the Victoria that left on its maiden voyage under a firework filled sky.

Southampton was hit badly during the Second World War by bombing raids, and as such alot of new high rise flats were built, particularly around the Maybush area of the town. However as you head into Shirley, 1930 terraced homes still remain, moving into larger semi detached properties that are in relatively quiet streets although only really a stone's throw away from the centre of the town.   Southampton is a popular place to live and as such the number of office conversions and the developments on the edge of the Port at Town Quay, and Ocean Village in the Marina have made buy to let investors choose Southampton in which to invest. This has ultimately pushed up house prices, and along with the demand for student accommodation due to the University and the Hospital house prices are above the national average.

Purchasing a property of any type in Southampton is much the same process for any large town or city in the United Kingdom. There are many national Estate Agents that the prospective purchaser can go to to register their interest, and this is often the best way if you are new and moving to Southampton from further afield. However if you are seeking some insider knowledge about an area, it is also a good idea to register with one or two independent Estate Agents who might have something a little more interesting on their books, and the prospective purchaser may find that they get more value for money this way. Undertaking research through the internet about amenities and local transport, shopping, and leisure facilities is also a good way to understand the best places to live in Southampton. For example, areas across the water in Hythe and Dibden Purlieu have Southampton postcodes and could be argued as coming under Southampton, however to commute into Southampton everyday the commuter must endure the A326 Fawley road, alternatively a ferry can be caught across to Southampton, but this is only a passenger ferry and therefore you are restricted by public transport on the other side to reach your destination.

If price is more important than amenities then the outer edges of Southampton such as Hamble and Hedge End offer some attractive and affordable housing in modern housing developments, each with their own areas for shopping. Students of the University or Hospital tend to live more centrally in and around the Avenue and Highfield. The "common" is not far away and the lack of flat and house garden space is offset by having this large area of parkland very close by. Obtaining mortgages again is very much the same process in Southampton as it is in other parts of the United Kingdom. Firstly, if a first time buyer is seeking the mortgage, then a good way of finding out about the best mortgage deals in the market is to approach an independent financial advisor who has access to some of the better rated mortgages and will guide the prospective purchaser through the process and paperwork. Evidence of income will be required from bank and pay slips usually for the last 6 months. An approach is made to the mortgage company chosen, who on the basis of the income will provide an offer in principle. Once a property is found, the mortgage company will want to value the property before deciding what to lend against it. For the best mortgage deal it is usually better to have a larger deposit, however as a first time buyer this is not always possible.

Another way of financing the purchase of a house or flat is to go to a new development where the the developer arranges finance, sometimes with a financial company, or sometimes through part exchange on an existing property that the purchaser already owns. This way developers can offer carpets and curtains included in the price, however be aware that interest will be due back on these items, and it may be cheaper to just mortgage the property and purchase furnishings and carpets separately from furniture stores that are offering a better rate of return on loans to buy those goods.

Renting in Southampton is another way of moving into the area before making a firm commitment of buying, and with a large student population this is more attractive. Buy to let investors have moved into Southampton offering a range of properties to let from shared housing in terraced 1930's homes near to the University or up market apartments in Ocean Village with views out to the Solent. Around the city walls looking out to the sea there are developments of old office blocks and customs buildings that have been converted that offer executive style living for the young professional single person.

Travel and transport links - The M3 takes the driver from Southampton directly into South West London, or alternatively from the M3 the A34 is accessible, linking well with the M4 and the West country and Wales. Train links from Southampton are good and London is an hour and a half away by train, Bournemouth can be reached in an hour, and trains to Southampton Airport just a matter of minutes. The airport at Southampton Parkway (Eastleigh) has a number of airlines that serve Europe, the Isle of Mann and even further afield.

History - Southampton is steeped in history with its now crumbling walls that once surrounded the entire city. Today, only little remains of the wall with above and below bar that mark the South and North markers of the city centre. Although today modern cruise liners dock and depart from Southampton and are increasing in size and number, in 1912 the fateful Titanic part of White Star cruise liners departed from Southampton on its ill fated journey. Today the city remembers that time and there is a museum in the city dedicated to the Titanic. In more recent times Southampton during the second World War was a target, and therefore children from the city were evacuated to the country. Some, such as little Ben Cook were evacuated as far a field as Scotland, who with his mother went to live with his aunt, only returning to Southampton after the War.

Leisure in Southampton - shopping in Southampton used to be quite limited although pleasant in the open air, the shopper could go from Bedford Place at the top of the town, across the park to the department store Plummers, and then follow the shops all the way through the centre of the town to Tyrell and Green, the pedestianised area, down to above bar and beyond to Debenhams. Now, shopping centres have been added, the first of which was in East Street, then the Marlands and more recently the modern Town Quay shopping centre with large John Lewis and Marks and Spencer department stores attracting shoppers 7 days a week.

Southampton has a lot to offer those who find shopping less of pastime and more of a necessity. Leisure options are varied in Southampton, there is a large public swimming pool with viewing windows and high diving boards. The Mayflower Theatre has an excellent variety of productions throughout the year, from West End shows to Ballet to Ice Skating. There are several cinemas offering the mainstream and obscure foreign films. Foreign films can be enjoyed by the large Polish population that has settled in Southampton. Polish migrants have found jobs in the city within the growing property development industry. There are many apartments and flats being built in and around the city, particularly in the old customs buildings near Ocean Village, in the marina, and close to the University and Hospital in Bassett and Highfield. The student population is also growing in Southampton, and therefore property demands have increased and have proved advantageous to the serious investor and amateur one property investor.