Table of Contents
Homebuyers looking for the “best value for money” should consider Hartlepool, according to data published by Zoopla.
The real estate portal has revealed the cheapest and most expensive real estate markets based on price per square foot.
It revealed that the average house in the UK now costs £300 per square foot. This means that if someone buys a 1,000 square foot property and sells it for £300,000, then the buyer is paying an average of £300 per square foot.
Based on the UK average of £300 per square foot, Zoopla estimates that a standard-sized double bed takes up £8,280 of space on average.
> What’s next for mortgage rates in 2024?
The average house in the UK now costs £300 per square foot, according to Zoopla
The total square meters of the property are obtained by adding the square meters of each room. The square meters of each room are obtained by multiplying the length by the width.
Most floor plans will provide the total square footage and square footage of a property. £1,000 square feet equals 92.9 square meters.
> When will interest rates go down again?
The coastal town of Hartlepool, County Durham, has the lowest cost per square foot at £118, according to Zoopla. This means that a double bed covers the equivalent of £3,257 of space.
Kensington and Chelsea in London were found to be the most expensive at £1,373 per square foot, which is equivalent to £37,895 for a double bed.
The average price per square foot across London is a much lower £585, showing how much prices can vary in the capital.
Outside the capital, there are still areas where buyers will struggle to find a property below the national average.
There are some city centres, such as Edinburgh, where buyers can expect to pay £410 per square foot on average, Birmingham at £420 and York at £370.
> Best mortgage rates for first-time buyers
Deal: Hartlepool is the cheapest area to buy when considering pounds per square foot at £118
Those looking to buy in towns close to national landscapes (former areas of outstanding national beauty) and national parks can also expect to pay more than the average £ per square foot.
For example, in the market town of Bakewell in the Derbyshire Dales, buyers can expect to pay £360 per square foot on average.
Aberdyfi, on the edge of Eryri National Park in Wales, should also be willing to pay more than the national average of £330 per square foot.
> Best buy-to-let mortgages for landlords
Deep pockets: Kensington and Chelsea is the most expensive area in the UK, with houses costing £1,373 per square foot on average.
Those looking for a home in the south of England may have a little more luck finding homes for less than £300 per square foot.
Zoopla estimates that a third of areas in southern England offer homes with an average price of £300 or less per square foot.
In this area, historic coastal resorts and port towns offer the most affordable homes on a £ per square foot basis, up to 45 per cent below the regional average.
Areas worth considering for the best value for money are Portsmouth with an average of £230 per square foot, Plymouth with £180 per square foot and Great Yarmouth with £180 per square foot.
Outside the south of England, the average price per square foot ranges from £145 per square foot in the North East to £240 in the West Midlands.
What types of properties offer the best £ per square foot?
Semi-detached houses offer the best value for money, with prices per square foot ranging from £225 for a two-bedroom property to £235 for a four-bedroom property.
While detached and semi-detached homes command a higher price per square foot, they tend to offer more space and external features, such as off-street parking, something potential buyers should keep in mind.
The two-bedroom semi-detached and semi-detached houses are the same size, 860 square feet, according to Zoopla.
The difference between an average three-bedroom townhouse and a three-bedroom townhouse is 20 square feet, enough to accommodate an extra desk, something that has become more desirable in recent years due to hybrid working.
However, when examining the space offered by a townhouse and a four-bedroom townhouse, the difference, at 70 square feet, is significant. This amount of space is enough for an extra bathroom, a small office, or a laundry room.
Is price per square foot a good measure of value?
Buyers considering price per square foot are typically investors, whether buying to let or developing and selling.
While it might be a useful metric to help you decide between the properties on your short list, there’s a danger that it will prevent you from choosing the home you really like.
Ultimately, looking at the asking price of similar types of properties in the area should give you a good indication of value without having to obsess over square footage.
Izabella Lubowiecka, senior real estate researcher at Zoopla, said: “In many other countries, buyers tend to pay more attention to space and cost per square meter or foot when looking for their next home, and they are right to do so.”
‘Looking at this measurement is a much more logical way of assessing value for money, allowing buyers to compare different homes without having to set foot inside a property.
‘A property that comes with an extra bedroom or bathroom may not yet have the right amount of extra space the buyer is looking for; Examining the square footage of a property can help buyers identify whether a property has that space and whether the cost per square foot is worth it.”
Some links in this article may be affiliate links. If you click on them, we may earn a small commission. That helps us fund This Is Money and keep it free to use. We do not write articles to promote products. We do not allow any commercial relationship to affect our editorial independence.