Think outside the box to check dream home and prime location

A property purchase is more than likely to be the single most expensive investment you will make in your lifetime, so it’s critical to ensure your new home is the right one on all levels.

In almost every case, that means considering factors beyond the boundaries of your space – community, schools, transport links and local amenities.

Prompting prospective buyers to think outside the box – or property in this case – is a key quality of a good buying agent who will consider a client’s core requirements and match that with their local experience, contacts and knowledge to source that dream location.

Being on top of the privileges, challenges and luxuries homeowners experience in locations across Oxfordshire and the county’s surrounds contributes to the true value of working with a buying agent.

And that’s what we consider in this blog. How a buying agent helps individuals and families to think not just property, but the full picture instead.

Education

Easy access to quality private or state education is a key priority for many families who choose to move to Oxfordshire – and for good reason.

At present, there are 46 schools covering all five of the county’s districts with an outstanding Ofsted rating. Oxfordshire’s catchment area regarding education is truly fortuitous and a huge positive for buyers.

However, there are key considerations for buyers to understand before choosing to make an offer on what they might consider to be their dream home on paper:

• Traffic – during rush hour, we can’t hide how congested Oxfordshire’s roads become. A perfect property five miles from your child’s school could easily take 40 minutes to reach during peak times.
• Access – pockets of Oxfordshire are rural, very rural, where access to local provisions might not be the easiest for those unable to drive.

You can read our guide to Oxfordshire communities based within reasonable reach of the county’s top schools during peak travel times here.

VAT hike

Much noise has been generated in the media since the general election regarding private schools, and Labour’s move to charge VAT (20 per cent) on top of existing fees.

It’s estimated the average family with children studying at private school will have to pay an additional £62,000 over the course of each child’s education as a result. But what impact will this have on the property market?

According to estate agent Winkworth, house prices near good state schools could increase by as much as 20 per cent as a direct consequence of the introduction of VAT on top of private school fees.

It means competition for properties near east Oxford, Banbury, Eynsham and Kidlington could be on the rise as secondary schools within close proximity of these locations have been rated strongly by Ofsted during recent inspections.

The VAT hike comes in affect in January 2025, so short-term change to ‘microclimates’ of Oxfordshire’s property market could be expected.

Transport

The pandemic prompted behavioural change when it comes to our working routines and habits, with more people than before now working from home in hybrid roles.

This has unlocked the door for families to mix rural living with responsibilities in the city. And no county is better placed than Oxfordshire to provide this. Here’s why:

1. Fourteen of Oxfordshire’s train stations serve central London within an hour including Appleford, Cholsey, Didcot, Radley and Shiplake.
2. The M40 and M5 corridors linking London to the midlands, west and south-west run parallel with Oxfordshire’s eastern and southern borders.
3. Heathrow, Luton, Birmingham, Bristol, Gatwick and Stanstead airports are all within a 90-minute drive of parts of the county – many within a one-hour drive.

READ MORE: Oxford Property Consulting’s guide for the London commuter.

Amenities and community

In our most recent blog, we touched on how Oxfordshire’s Country Clubs are driving interest and demand for properties in rural areas of the county.

This is a prime example of buyers thinking outside the property, and how local amenities and communities can prompt a competitive market where access to properties and positioning yourself as a serious buyer are key.

So, visit the area’s local pub. Speak to people who are at the heart of the community and find out if where you’re looking is an environment which can work for you. As a buying agent, it’s our responsibility to refine your search and source viewings which not only save time but identify properties available which can be exchanged at the right price.

As we mentioned at the top of this piece, by considering the bigger picture you’ll not only find that perfect home but a community which resonates with your lifestyle too.

READ MORE: Oxford Property Consulting’s guide to off-market properties.