In the 7 year period from 1996 to 2002 the all property index for London shows an average annual price increase in the order of 13.8% per annum with the average all-property price now at £233,000.

For the South-East/Home Counties the same figures are 11.5% average increase per annum and £173,500.

During the same period Hereford & Worcester County achieved an average annual increase in the all-property index of a respectable 9.5% pa.

The average increase for quality detached houses in the most popular locations (eg in and around the market towns of Leominster & Ledbury) average increases over the past 7 years have been more often double-digit in the range of 12% to 15%.

This data has been taken from an independent national property tracker site which is well worth a visit - proviser.com

We firmly believe that Herefordshire still offers purchasers an affordable entry into the UK residential market with considerable potential for continuing upward growth without the same exposure to the boom & bust cycle risk of an overheated London & South-East market.

A budget of £ 175,000 to £325,000 will purchase a substantial period or new-build house or a barn conversion typically set in extensive grounds in a popular town, village or rural setting.

The lettings market remains strong with yields in the range of 5 to 8%. For the carefully chosen buy-to-let investment the rental income will largely cover mortgage payments and other associated property outgoings.

The numbers stack-up for a stable and worthwhile investment paticularly for those looking to the medium to longterm with a view to building a property portfolio as part of their planned pension strategy.

For those purchasers who may consider own-use of the property as their main or second-home residence we would suggest another reason for purchase in Herefordshire & the Welsh Borders – its simply a great place to visit & live.

Towns & villages in the locale regularly hit the top of UK polls for having the highest amenity and being amongst the most desirable places in which to live. The area is steeped in history with most of the settlements dating to the Domesday Book and beyond, such as original medaeval buildings around, and the area is famous for its Black & White oak-timber buildings.

The quality and diversity of the housing stock is unrivalled from period & new detached townhouses to timber & stone barn conversions in idyllic rural settings, from Jacobean moated manor houses to equestrian & sporting estates.

All possible countryside activities are on the doorstep from fishing to canoeing to walking & hot-air ballooning.

Most properties would lie within a 10 to 20 mile radius of Hereford City which with a poulation of over 100,000 offers a full range of amenities. An excellent rail service from the City provides easy access to other parts of the UK, with Birmingham (1 hr), Manchester (2 hr) and London Paddington (3hr). Motorway access (M50 Bristol) is approx 14 miles to the south-east of the city.

Over the past few years there is no doubt that the property market in Herefordshire has been bouyed by an influx of people relocating from the urban areas, particularly from London & the South-East and we can only forsee this trend growing over the next decade. Please have a look at some of the websites which may give you a taste of what Herefordshire has to offer.