A spotlight on Wanstead and South Woodford – a great place to live or invest in

In the first of our London area spotlights – we take a look at Wanstead and South Woodford from a tenant and investor’s perspective.

If you are considering your next move, or next potential investment opportunity then considering South Woodford and Wanstead is a good idea. Both are vibrant suburbs of east London, and with easy reach of central London with Charing Cross only nine miles from away. Together they offer the best of both worlds – open spaces and a proximity to the capital.  

South Woodford and Wanstead are considered scenic havens of serenity, complete with cricket greens and old-timey pubs, and they also boast high-rated Ofsted schools and plenty of open spaces, which may be why they attract not only young families and professionals but also and those looking to invest in property.

Property wise, they showcase a mix of Victorian, Edwardian, and twenties houses alongside thirties flats and period conversions making it the ideal area for investment and homeowners. However, as the rest of the Capital has seen bloated growth in prices, both South Woodford and Wanstead are still seen as a ‘good deal’.

South Woodford

A solid place to live, South Woodford boasts a lively high street, library, cinema, decent cafés and lots of pubs and restaurants.  There’s beautiful parks and open areas, not to mention nearby Epping Forest, adding to the delights of this green and leafy suburb.

South Woodford feels both rural and residential, and house prices reflect this with the majority of sales in the last year being flats.  The average market price being in the region of £387,000. Terraced properties sold for an average of £672,00, with semi-detached properties fetching £904,000.

For those looking to invest, the rental market is buoyant in this beautiful area.  Rental prices are currently approx £1,400 pcm for a one bedroom flat and with large properties there’s plenty of possibilities for a HMO landlord.

Wanstead

An area similar in appeal to South Woodford, Wanstead offers a variety of amenities for families and young professionals with house prices sitting around the £700k mark. Steeped in history, from the landmarked gothic water tower and Winston Churchill being one of its famous MPs, to its conservation areas nestled around the high street, Wanstead is very family orientated. So, if you are looking to rent or buy, it really does have something for everyone.

If you are an investor, then this area also has varied property stock with plenty of investment opportunities to suit all budgets.

Investment opportunities in South Woodford and Wanstead

As mentioned, both areas are located in East London, an area associated with a lot of regeneration in the last twenty years. From the investment in the Olympic Park and enhanced transport links they are perfect for buy-to-let investors. This is partly due to their exceptional transport links and an influx of young professionals to the area. There has also been a huge investment in new developments with ‘buying off plan’ an attractive option for some investors. Finally due to the Victorian and Edwardian housing, HMO opportunities are also abundant.

The investment landscape

East London in general, not just South Woodford and Wanstead, has seen a steady rise in house prices over the last few years, and when combined with the Crossrail development and the regeneration of Stratford and the Olympic Park it is suggested that this will continue to grow. 

We at Reka are passionate about these areaa, and have worked with many landlords to help them maximise steady income growth and sustain their long term property strategy. If you would like to know more about these areas and the opportunity of living or investing in them, please do speak to our property specialists.

Email us to start the conversation.

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