The stretch of coastline between Rame Head and Polruan has long been overlooked as a destination for those seeking to make that coastal lifestyle home purchase. Not anymore, buyers who traditionally orientated towards the notable hotspots on the North coast have turned their attention to South East Cornwall, affordability and accessibility are major factors, many of the buyers are immediately employing local building companies and architects to refurbish or rebuild/reconfigure the houses so that they properly embrace the maritime location. Evidence of this can be readily observed by just driving through our coastal villages and seeing the amount of construction work being carried out.

Here at Atwell Martin we recognise that lifestyle is a driving force behind many peoples home purchase – employment/schooling are other significant factors however with improved transport links and more people working from home, lifestyle has become very important. Whilst out viewing with prospective purchasers it is now very common to hear viewers identifying places to keep their wetsuits, kayaks, surfboards and other water sports paraphernalia, enabling the storage of such kit, store sheds, workshops and garages have become as equally important as the traditional study or conservatory.

There is no doubt that capital appreciation in coastal locations is more robust than the rural counterparts and market turnover remained healthy even during the recessionary years. Looking forward we predict that coastal properties particularly in South East Cornwall will retain their value and indeed in some cases see strong appreciation as more and more buyers seek to indulge their passion for the coastal lifestyle. Constrained by geography there is less opportunity for large scale development so there is no doubt that buyers will seek opportunities to stamp their own identity on the second hand housing stock.

The waters of Whitsand and Looe Bay provide a sheltered playground and set against the beautiful cliffs and hinterland, parts of which are in the ownership of the National Trust, it’s easy to see why savvy buyers are already identifying the area as the next property hotspot.