Country House Market Remains Buoyant
The country house market is remaining buoyant, with average growth in prime country residential property stronger in the first half of 2004 than in the second half of 2003, according to FPDSavills.


Friday, July 23 2004 Growth in the capital value of prime country residential property throughout the UK was stronger in the first half of 2004 (4.4%) compared with second half of 2003 (2.4%) according to figures released today by FPDSavills. However, the research also shows that while total growth in the first half of this year exceeded that of the last half of 2003, growth has reduced from nearly 2.4% in the first quarter of this year to just above 1.9% for the second quarter, fuelling speculation of a slow down in the high-end rural residential market. The research showed that growth is strongest in the North. According to Ian Bailey, Senior Analyst in Rural Property Research at FPDSavills, this is due to the gap closing between areas furthest from and closest to London, as people are more willing and able to move further away. In response to the findings, Mark Rimell, the London Head of Country Houses for Strutt & Parker, reaffirmed that a slowdown is normal for the summer months: 'For the second quarter of this year Strutt & Parker are ahead of where we were last year, with more sales of higher values. We are now entering the summer season and response to advertising and levels of activity are, as a consequence, slower.' FPDSavills Strutt & Parker
Sign up for the Country Life Newsletter
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
Country Life is unlike any other magazine: the only glossy weekly on the newsstand and the only magazine that has been guest-edited by HRH The King not once, but twice. It is a celebration of modern rural life and all its diverse joys and pleasures — that was first published in Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee year. Our eclectic mixture of witty and informative content — from the most up-to-date property news and commentary and a coveted glimpse inside some of the UK's best houses and gardens, to gardening, the arts and interior design, written by experts in their field — still cannot be found in print or online, anywhere else.
-
Six rural properties with space, charm and endless views, as seen in Country Life
We take a look at some of the best houses to come to the market via Country Life in the past week.
By Toby Keel
-
Exploring the countryside is essential for our wellbeing, but Right to Roam is going backwards
Campaigners in England often point to Scotland as an example of how brilliantly Right to Roam works, but it's not all it's cracked up to be, says Patrick Galbraith.
By Patrick Galbraith