A Royal Wedding, Russia, Facebook, Brexit, Trump, House prices up, House prices down ... the Press is full of column inches on Brit's favourite subjects of politics, scandal, weather and not forgetting (and I appreciate the irony of this!) the property market. AWalsall Estate Agent, I belong to a national group of letting and estate agents. Talking to my fellow property professionals from around the UK, the one thing that is immediately apparent is the UK does not have one property market. It is a hodgepodge patchwork (almost like a fly's eye) of lots of small property markets all performing in different ways.

... And that made me think ... is there just one Walsall Property Market or many?

I like to keep an eye on the property market in Walsall on a daily basis because it enables me to give the best advice and opinion on what (or not) to buy in Walsall, be that a buy-to-let property for aWalsall landlordor an owner occupier house for a home owner. So, I thought, how could I scientifically split the Walsall housing market into segments, so I could see which part of the market was performing the best and/ or the worst.

I decided the best way was to split the Walsall property market into four equal size price bands (into terms of households for sale). Each price band would have around 25% of the property in Walsall, from the lowest in value (the Lowest Quartile or 25%) all the way through to the highest 25% in terms of value, the Upper Quartile. Looking at the market, I have calculated that these are the price bands in Walsall are as follows:

• Lowest Quartile (lowest 25% in terms of value) ... Up to £100,000
• Lower/Middle Quartile (25% to 50% Quartile in terms of value) ... £100,000 to £2000,000
• Middle/Upper Quartile (50% to 75% Quartile in terms of value) ... £200,000 to £300,000
• Upper Quartile (highest 25% in terms of value) ... £300,000 Upwards

So, having split the Walsall Property Market approximately into four equal sizes, the results in terms what price band has sold (sold subject to contract or sstc) the most is quite enlightening -

I have to say I was surprised by the results which, although very close, the best performing price range in Walsall is the highest market (upper quartile)!! I expected, the lower/ middle quartile (£100k to £200k), banding to struggle slightly as this is not only the highest concentrate of available Walsall properties on the market but also, a high number of sales fall through for various reasons...and therein lies the opportunity for Walsall landlords. With many frustrated Walsall vendors an astute investor can bag him/ herself a Walsall buy to let bargain providing of course, you know how to pick out a deal.

Even though the number of first time buyers did increase in 2017, it was from a low base and the vast majority of 20 something's cannot buy, so need a roof over their head (hence the need to rent somewhere).

It is a fact that British (and Walsall's) housing markets have ridden the storms of Oil crisis in the 1970's, the 1980's depression, Black Monday in the 1990's, and latterly the Credit Crunch together with the various house price crashes of 1973, 1987 and 2008. No matter what happens to us Brexit or anything else ... unless the Government starts to build hundreds of thousands extra houses each year, demand will always outstrip supply...

Want to know where those Walsall buy to let bargains are? Follow my Walsall Property Blog or drop me an email because irrespective of which agent you use, myself or any of the other excellent agents in Walsall, many local landlords ask me my thoughts, opinion and advice on what (and not) to buy locally ... and I wouldn't want you to miss out on those thoughts ... would you?

Email: salekm@ashmorelettings.co.uk

Phone: 01922 311016

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