News & Views Blog

Property prices in Ramsgate have increased by 73% over the past five years, under a backdrop of extensive regeneration to boost the tourist industry, according to a survey by SpicerMcColl.

Since 2001, house prices in the historic town, fronted by Regency and victorian terraces overlooking the waterfront, have increased by two-and-a-half times the average for the South East, which has only grown by 29%.

Despite these rises, properties for sale in Ramsgate are still well below the regional average of £207,400, making it one of the best seaside towns in the South East.

The regeneration of the waterfront and town centre in Ramsgate has given the town a new vitality and greatly improved the lifestyle for residents and visitors. The Royal Harbour and Marina is home to a diverse arraty of new cafes, restaurants and bars and the town also ahs the designated Westcliffe Conservation Area with a number of sought-after period properties.

Buyers are moving to the town from London and traditional hotspots further along thesouth coast, such as Brighton, which has seen prices rocket over recent years. The high speed rail link between Ashford and Stratford, set to be completed in 2007, will make Ramsgate more accessible from London and further increase its desirability as a location for first and second homes. Lawrence Mayne, manager at Spicer McColl said:

A growing number of professionals with young families are moving down from London because of the good choice of grammar schools in the town. Affordable prices and attractive period properties are pulling people from other seaside areas such as Brighton where properties are more expensive.

A second trend is the increasing number of properties purchased as second homes by Londoners and people living further north. The easy journey out from the dcapital compared to those for coastal towns in the South West has encouraged Londoners to choose Ramsgate as their preferred holiday home location for weekends and summer months.