In March, Market Harborough was named as the 7th best place to live in the whole of the Midlands in the prestigious Sunday Times Best Places to Live 2018 guide. At Naylors, as estate agents with over a decade of experience buying and selling houses in Market Harborough, we weren’t surprised by our lovely town’s inclusion in the list.
Fantastic facilities
In the guide, Market Harborough is praised for its ability to move with the times while holding on to its traditional small market town roots – something that’s reflected in the fact that the town’s chain stores and supermarkets are well balanced with long-established independent boutiques and specialist food and drink shops. Not only that, Market Harborough won plaudits for its popular leisure centre, thriving theatre and great choice of restaurants.
Family life
The town was also singled out as a safe as well as an attractive place for families to choose to set up home. Market Harborough’s good choice of schools was a major factor in this, with the Ofsted-outstanding Welland Park Academy being singled out for special attention alongside the nearby independent options of Uppingham and Oakham schools.
London links for commuters
Market Harborough’s proximity to London is also an important factor in its ability to appeal to a wide range of people. The fact that this quiet East Midlands town is only an hour away from the capital by train, or two hours by car, means it’s increasingly less of a well-kept secret among commuters who want to get more space for their money outside London and the cripplingly expensive traditional commuter belt in the South East.
Buying a house in Market Harborough
The guide singled out Great Bowden as the best of both worlds when it comes to combining picture-perfect English village life with close proximity to all the facilities the town centre has to offer. Average sale prices between March 2017 and March 2018 were reported as follows:
- Starter home (flat): £134,500 (£610 pcm)
- Mid-market (semi): £283, 400 (£850 pcm)
- Family (detached): £507, 320 (£1,270 pcm)
The Best of the East
With the East Midlands becoming a house price hotspot with its highest ever increase in asking prices reported this year, houses in Market Harborough are in high demand. That said, with plenty of new building happening in the town and the traditionally buoyant spring market taking hold, there are options available for most tastes and price brackets. Also, as many commuters are finding, Market Harborough is still far less expensive than comparable towns just a little further south.
If you would like expert advice about buying a property in Market Harborough, contact Naylors Estate Agency today on 01858 450 020.