Zoopla, the UK’s most comprehensive property destination, has revealed that buyer demand for family homes in Bolton has risen sharply since pupils returned to the classroom in March. The increase in demand was further amplified by the announcement of the extension of the stamp duty holiday to the end of September and the rapid progress of the vaccine roll-out.
Bolton booming
Demand for two and three bedroom homes in Bolton, perfect for local families who have children back at school, has risen by 26% in the last eight weeks, with an average price £153,000.
This represents an increase on Bolton’s average property price, as revealed by Zoopla’s House Price Index. In April, the Index revealed that the average house price in Bolton is now £141,000, with prices rising by 7.3% in the last 12 months. The data also showed prices in Bolton have increased cumulatively by 23.3% in the past five years.
Bolton’s average house price is significantly lower than in homes in Manchester. The average house price in Greater Manchester is now £185,800, with prices rising by 6.5% in the last 12 months. Because of its proximity to Manchester, Bolton is an attractive area for property hunters who work in the city but want more affordable housing while still having easy access to work.
Bolton’s booming property market has also seen a 46% rise in demand for four and five bedroom homes since March, which have an average asking price of £307,000.
Family homes currently for sale in Bolton include a beautiful three-bed house on Tetbury Drive (£250,00), situated just a 13 minute drive from The Oaks Primary School, one of the highest ranking schools in Bolton.
Other properties include a two-bed house (£110,00) which is just a two minute walk to Moorgate Primary School, one of the best schools in the area and a stunning three-bed semi-detached house (£200,000) on Valdene Close, a quiet cul-de-sac only a stone’s throw away from a park, tennis courts and playing fields.
Property expert Stuart Matthews, Managing Director at leading Greater Manchester estate agency Miller Metcalfe, said: “Since the schools reopened, we’ve seen a surge in demand for family homes in Bolton. Parents are grabbing the opportunities presented by the lifting of lockdown restrictions to seek more space. Bolton is a fantastic place for families to live, with its outstanding schools and easy
access to metropolitan cities such as Manchester, and we’re expecting demand to keep rising as we head towards the end of the stamp duty holiday in September.”
Gráinne Gilmore, Head of Research at Zoopla, comments: “More families in Bolton took the opportunity of the kids going back to school to look for a new home, and that has had a big impact on demand for homes - with demand for two and three bed homes across Bolton rising by 26%.
“As lockdown restrictions continue to ease and demand for outdoor space continues at pace, homeowners in Bolton have a golden opportunity to move to a new property before the stamp duty holiday ends in September. The spike in demand also puts sellers of family houses in the county in a great position if they put their home on the market. Homeowners interested in finding out what their home is worth can check My Home on Zoopla.co.uk, which offers an instant online estimate.