Whenever looking for a house for sale in the UK or in Bedford, it is vital you look at the market trends and house price fluctuations in the wider area of Bedfordshire too. House prices of houses for sale can change even among different streets very close to each other so, as a landlord, it would be a good idea to be familiar with the area of Bedford.
In this article, we will be looking at the city of Bedford in detail so you know how to navigate the area and have a better understanding on where to invest.
What is the asking price on average of houses for sale in Bedford?
Average asking prices for houses for sale in Bedford
Average asking price (1 bed) | £157,406 |
Average asking price (2 bed) | £266,691 |
Average asking price (3 bed) | £356,588 |
Average asking price (4 bed) | £511,175 |
Average asking price (5 bed) | £707,742 |
After looking at this table about prices of houses for sale in Bedford, someone who is buying a home would be able to know in great detail what kind of house for sale available on the market best suits the amount of money they are looking to invest. Also, using a more general figure like the average asking price per square foot of a property which is £2,232 will help them to have a more wholistic understanding.
Before a house gets sold, the figure it sells for always starts off as an asking price. This average asking price for the houses for sale in Bedford determines the eventual sale price of the house so it isn’t the most important figure but is still important to take note of. This figure is currently £388,739.
Below, there is a table showing the asking price of the different sizes of houses based on the number of bedrooms of the houses in Bedford.
In Bedford, what are the demographics like?
In Bedford, what is the social grade score?
Most of the time, the social grade score of a city is what it takes to determine what the economic levels are like as this score refers to what type of jobs the people of the area generally work as. So, from highly skilled, managerial roles, to the manual labour workers of the UK, how does Bedford compare?
At the highest end of the scale (A) jobs that are managerial administrative or professional are all lumped into this category. On the other hand, there is the lowest grade (E) where workers who are on benefits, state pensions or work casual jobs fall into.
In Bedford, the percentage of people who work in the two highest skilled categories of this scale (A and B) is 26%.
So you can compare this data, here is the estimated grouping of the social grades of the UK for the general population. Adding the two highest categories of A and B and comparing this percentage to the high social grade score which combines A and B should give you a good comparison.
Social Score | Category | The proportion of the UK population (%) |
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A | Professional, managerial or administrative | 4 |
B | Intermediate managerial or professional jobs | 23 |
C1 | Supervisory, junior managerial or professional jobs | 29 |
C2 | Skilled manual workers | 21 |
D | Semi and unskilled manual workers | 15 |
E | State pensioners, casual & lowest grade workers | 8 |
Is the education level of Bedford important when buying a house?
In the city of Bedford, 28% people have a degree from a university. The higher this proportion is, in general, the more likely it is that the population is able to buy a house.
Interestingly, as people who have degrees go up, the average income of the area goes up too. You can see if there is a correlation, the average household income in the UK is price34,000 and the average income in Bedford is £46,367.
This should correspond with the average percentage of people in the UK who have degrees at 22.6%.
Have the people of Bedford grown in numbers?
In the UK in general and specifically in the region in question, large population sizes can be good indications that there are a lot of people in the area looking for houses for sale which can drive up demand and therefore impact the cost. You should also check to see if the population is growing in the area too to show an increasing demand, this is even better. Currently, the total population of Bedford is 177,600.
Sometimes, smaller populations can have higher buyer demand than large populations on the other hand. This is because the price of houses and hence the demand for houses is based on a variety of variables.
The most important variable is the location of the houses for sale in the city of Bedford.
In Bedford, how has the population changed over the last five years?
In the last five years, over time, the change in population size was 4%. Looking at this figure can inform you of the buyer demand for the houses for sale in the area. Read more here
This may mean that the city has now started to slow down in terms of population growth or it may mean the city is also building a lot of houses which would indicate the supply of houses for sale will be matching the demand.
Making predictions about the future growth of Bedford is hence important in making a decision if capital appreciation of your real estate investment is something you’re after as a landlord.
Comparing this figure for the 5 year growth (4%) as well as the ten year growth in the subheading below should allow you to make some accurate forecasts on the growth rate. Click here to know more on the UK population trends.
Bedford population difference over 10 years?
The population has adjusted in the area of Bedford by 10% in the most recent decade. This change is even more useful when compared alongside the figure for the five year growth of the area too.
This will tell you if the population is changing at the moment or if change is more recent. Through this a landlord can accurately look at the fluctuations in population size of the area over time and therefore better understand the trend of the houses for sale in Bedford.
To make an example, the town of Salford which is a part of Manchester has seen a 10% increase in population. house price has therefore followed.
How much do people in Bedford earn?
While not always the case, the amount people earn can be associated with better schools in the area and perhaps a nicer environment to live in.
£46,367 is the average household income of the area. And the higher this figure is the more likely it is that there is a higher percentage of people with a social grade score in the A or B categories which is 26% for Bedford.
In Bedford, what are the deprivation levels like?
The number of people who are deprived can have an impact on the perception of your house in the general marketplace. Additionally, if you are looking for a house to live in for the long term, you can start to picture what your neighbours and the people in your area live like financially.
If the proportion of deprivation of Bedford is 23% and in general for the UK this figure is somewhere around 33%, you can see if this figure is something you are happy with as you search for a house to buy.
Do the people of Bedford get to enjoy green space?
Whether you view green space in Bedford as important to you as a homeowner is up to your personal preferences. Having said this, there is a clear benefit on the overall health of people who live near green space as the government has stated keeping green space in proximity to people is one of the biggest factors for combating obesity.
In Bedford, the number of acres of green space for every 1000 people currently is 34.0 which can be measured against the UK average of 1.7.
The city of Bedford, situated in Bedfordshire, is a particularly impressive part of the UK because of the specific demographics of the location.
In the below headings, the city of Bedford and its demographics will be compared to its wider location (West Midlands). This includes population size, growth and population education now and into the future.
These statistics are heavily influenced by socio-economic factors and as a result this also shapes the projected house price of the houses for sale in Bedford. So, taking a good look at the data is essential to understand the area you are considering to buy in.
What’s crime like in Bedford?
Within Bedford, the number of people committing crimes is 103 per 1000 people. This figure directly relates to the safety of residents in the area which is one of the biggest factors in whether an area is considered desirable or not.
As a result, someone looking to buy a house here hoping for it to appreciate in value or buying a house here to produce rental income should check out the crime rate and compare it carefully to the UK average of 79.52 for every 1000 people to see how safe people living there will be.
If the area’s crime rate is too high, this may result in you having to pay for the renovation of burglaries or pay a premium on home insurance as insurance companies will charge you more for living in a dangerous area. So analyse this 103 figure carefully.
Why you should consider the average rental yield when searching for houses for sale in Bedford
Are there more or fewer houses being built in Bedford?
The growth of an area like Bedford can be a great indicator of a thriving city and the influx of new people can drive demand for housing and help appreciate the value of your house after you buy it.
Paying attention to the table below tells you how the number of houses has changed over time at one year, three year and five year intervals.
1 year | 3 years | 5 years | |
---|---|---|---|
Bedford growth rate | 2% | 11% | 19% |
Despite the number of houses being built rising, this may not indicate that the housing price of the houses for sale is going up. It could be the case that there are a lot of new builds in the area which are causing the supply of the houses for sale to match demand and this could cause a decline in house price as time goes on.
Make sure you do your own research specific to the city of Bedford if you want to find out the exact reasons for the housing change.
Let’s consider that you’re not looking to buy a house for sale to live in for the long term future such as if you changed location with your family and want to settle down and you want to find somewhere to buy as an investor in Bedford. If this is the case, rental yield is a crucial statistic to consider.
If looking to invest, you should also consider other data about the area. The average rental income, the turnover of the sale of the house and what the net rental yields are like for the area do also have an impact on the final price of houses for sale in Bedford.
It is clear to see from the table below that there is a difference between all of these pieces of information and how they can be compared and contrasted on a county level (Bedfordshire), a regional level (West Midlands) and finally on the level of the city talked about in this article, Bedford.
Average Yield | Average Asking rent | Turnover (rental) | Turnover (sale) | |
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Bedford | 3.3% | £1,067 | 123% | 15.3% |
Bedfordshire | 3.37% | £1,073 | 123.22% | 16.77% |
West Midlands | 3.89% | £877 | 119.29% | 20.00% |
You may also find it useful to compare the data above to the number of properties sold per month Bedford experiences. This figure for house sales per month is 129. Looking at all this information holistically is what a smart investor should do when deciding on the right area for investment before looking for houses for sale.
In general, what do houses for sale sell for in Bedford?
There are a lot of factors that impact the final sale price a house for sale sells for in the UK and in Bedford. In Bedford, this sale price works out to be £305,826. As an example, a factor like population growth over the last 10 years which works out to be 10% in Bedford and impacts house prices of the houses for sale.
Housing category | Total final sale price |
---|---|
Average sold price (detached) | £410,052 |
Average sold price (semi-detached) | £283,437 |
Average sold price (terraced) | £236,480 |
Average sold price (flat) | £157,423 |
Above, the exact type of house is also shown to vary in price in a table in Bedford. You may think that the bigger the house is the more expensive, but actually, this table is more based on the demand for the properties in each category.
Housing category | Sale price per square foot |
---|---|
Average sold price/sqft | £2,962 |
Average sold price/sqft (new build) | £2,643 |
Average sold price/sqft (old stock) | £2,900 |
In addition, here is the price per square foot. By taking this data and doing an average, it is also possible to work out the average square foot of houses in Bedford which is £3,072. From here you can get a sense of the price of the overall housing market and therefore, also find out the prices of the houses for sale.
Professional advice for houses for sale in Bedford
Considering all the above data and information provided, you may want know who can help you buy a house for sale.
Lots of professionals offer property investors and first-time buyers advice and assistance in dealing with the process of acquiring a house for sale.
Below, you can find a list of professionals that come in handy when looking for houses for sale:
- Lender – Is someone capable of lending you the money you need to complete the purchase of the house for sale
- Insurer – Insurance companies provide building insurances and other financial products you need to protect your real estate assets
- Conveyancer – This professional will take care of the legal work needed when looking for a house for sale
- Surveyor – Use this professional to assess the condition of the house for sale you are willing to buy, get an independent valuation and feel more comfortable when negotiating the final price
- Mortgage broker or adviser – Different buyers can access different mortgages to buy a house for sale. Let the mortgage broker suggest to you which one is the best given your financial situation
- Energy professional – Nowadays is more important than ever, to get professional advice on the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) of the house for sale you are considering as your next investment
Invest in a house for sale that meets your demands
When browsing houses for sale in Bedford you should think about lots of different criteria:
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House for sale affordability – visit the dedicated page of the UK government to understand (see what you can afford)
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Location of the house for sale – the region and town you are considering to live in are crucial factors to consider before looking for houses for sale. In this article, we define lots of demographic factors that should help you make a decision.
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House for sale transport links – even if working from home is becoming more and more predominant, we suggest you check the transport links the house for sale has.
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Number of bedrooms in the house for sale – are you looking for houses for sale for the whole family or are you single? Always think about how many bedrooms you need and if that number might change in the future
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energy performance of the house for sale – What is the EPC of the house for sale? Today more than ever, is important that you check the EPC rating of the real estate assets available for sale on the market.
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Internet speed in the area of the house for sale – is important to remember that internet speed is a consequence of two factors: your plan and the infrastructure available in the area. Always check these parameters before looking for houses for sale
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Does the house for sale have parking – if yes, is it on-street or is the house for sale equipped with a garage?
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Houses for sale in conservation areas – always check the National Heritage list. If a house for sale is part of this list it means that it might be impossible for you to make changes to the property’s internal and external structure.
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Houses for sale Conditions – some properties, like new builds, need no repairs or works; other houses listed for sale may need some investment to restore them and some others may need a complete renovation. Someone looking for houses for sale should always think about how much time and money they are willing to invest to complete the needed repairs.
Thinking about other cities with houses for sale?
Below are a list of towns with a similar location to Bedford.
Reading these analysis will help you evaluate the different houses for sale currently listed in West Midlands:
- Bedford in West Midlands
- Alderminster in West Midlands
- Boothville in West Midlands
- Cheslyn-Hay in West Midlands
- Amblecote in West Midlands
If you are interested in some other city or even region of the UK, please visit the following page houses for sale in the UK it contains all the data related to the houses for sale.
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