Category: Home Owners

1. Current Price Trends

• Average sale prices in Horley have been climbing steadily: around £480,275 based on 399 transactions in the past year
• As of July 2025, the average price paid is approximately £441,000, reflecting a strong 11.6% year-on-year rise
• mayhews report the average over 12 months at £476k, moving up from £458k in 2024 and currently reaching around £513k in 2025

2. By Property Type

• Flats (entry-level): selling in the £220k–300k range
• Terraced homes: typically £370k–400k
• Semi-detached: average £450k–550k
• Detached homes: from £600k to over £1 million, depending on size and location
• Broader market trends: detached houses average around £543,500, while flats average £193,250, with typical time on market around 12 weeks

3. Most Sought-After Areas

• Meath Green (northwest Horley): highly desirable, offering spacious family homes, period properties, newer developments, strong schools, local amenities, and countryside access (e.g., Emlyn Meadows)
• Thomas Waters Way (southeast): discreet modern family home development that’s proving popular
• Westvale Park (northwest of town centre): a large new development contributing significantly to housing stock growth

4. Advice for Sellers

• Be realistic in pricing: While average prices are up, recent individual sale prices often came in below initial asking, underlining the importance of accurate valuation
• Highlight location strengths: Homes in Meath Green or Westvale Park often attract stronger buyer interest due to space, school catchments, and green spaces.
• Focus on presentation and timing: With detached properties in high demand and market momentum expected to lift prices by around 4% in 2025 Mayhews Estates, staging, minor renovations, and listing early can help.
• Use comparative data: Showcase recent similar sales (e.g. flats vs terraced homes vs detached) to support your valuation narrative.

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Summary Table

Property Type	Typical Price Range	Buyer Demand
Flats	£220k–300k (others say ~£193k avg)	Entry-level, good value
Terraced Homes	£370k–400k	Steady interest from families
Semi-Detached Homes	£450k–550k	Strong appeal for growing families
Detached Homes	£600k–£1M+	Premium market, sought-after

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Takeaway

Horley’s property market is robust—prices are climbing, and areas like Meath Green, Thomas Waters Way, and Westvale Park remain top of the wishlist. Sellers who price strategically, stage well, and leverage local market data should benefit from the strong demand and favorable momentum.

if you require any advice on the local market or wish to sell a property contact us on 01293 775 518 or vist mayhewestates.co.uk

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Executive summary

• East Grinstead is a stable, commuter-friendly market in the High Weald AONB with a mix of period town houses, suburban family semis/detached and nearby villages attractive to buyers.
• Typical sold/asking prices sit in the mid-£400ks; detached homes are the top value band while flats and terraces sit substantially lower. Recent data shows small year-on-year dip or flatness locally, set against a broadly sluggish UK market with pockets of recovery.

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Data snapshot (most recent available)

• Rightmove (asking / listed average, last 12 months): ~£455,000 (overall average). Detached average ~£665k; flats ~£243k. Market has been ~3% down year-on-year and ~6% below the 2022 peak.
• Zoopla (sold prices, last 12 months): average sold price ~£436k. Detached ~£612k; semi ~£463k; terrace ~£372k; flats ~£235k.
• Home.co.uk (sold/asking breakdown): reports similar banding (detached highest—c. £690k in some snapshots; overall averages in the low-to-mid £400ks).
• Micro-area growth: some postcode analyses show modest growth in the last year (example: RH19-4 +5.9% year on year in one modelled dataset), but small-area performance varies.

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Recent trends and market drivers

• Flat to slightly negative near-term movement: portals show East Grinstead prices broadly static to a few percent down versus the prior year — matching the South East’s weaker performance in early/mid-2025.
• Buyer demand pockets: stronger for family 3-4 bed houses, period cottages and well-presented detached homes. Flats and higher-priced, high-spec homes see slower velocity. On the whole, buyer enquiry is most active where value aligns with realistic pricing.
• Macro context: surveyors’ cautious valuations and variable mortgage pricing have introduced uncertainty nationally; mortgage sentiment and any future Bank of England rate moves will strongly influence activity. Summer months usually bring more viewings, but sellers must be realistic on price.

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Popular areas & neighbourhood highlights

• Town centre / High Street (historic core) — desirable for period properties, character cottages and convenience; strong for buyers wanting town amenities and schools nearby.
• East Court / Ashplats — leafy parkland, close to recreation and woods (Ashplats/AONB), popular with families and those wanting outdoor space.
• Imberhorne area / catchment — favoured by families because of Imberhorne School (large comprehensive with good local reputation). Proximity to good schools drives demand and premiums.
• Nearby villages (Forest Row, Turners Hill, Felcourt/Turners Hill fringe) — attract buyers wanting village life and larger plots while keeping commuter access to Gatwick/London. Forest Row is noted locally as an attractive village within easy reach.

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Property types currently most in demand

• 3–4 bedroom semi-detached / detached family houses — highest enquiry & fastest sales when priced correctly.
• Well-presented period cottages and townhouses — strong buyer interest for character and central location.
• Bungalows / down-sizers — popular with older buyers wanting single-storey living close to town amenities.
• Flats — steady but lower prices and longer marketing times compared with houses.

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Time on market & negotiation (market feel)

• Portals and agent commentary indicate longer marketing windows for overpriced stock; well-priced family homes and cottages still achieve reasonable times to sale. The market rewards realistic pricing and presentation. (See national commentary and local agent reports for similar advice.)

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Practical advice — Sellers

1. Price to current demand. Use recent sold comparables (last 6 months) not aspirational asking prices; over-pricing leads to long marketing times.
2. Presentation matters. Small investments (declutter, fresh paint, good photos, floorplan) increase viewings and offers. Agents report that homes “ready to move into” outcompete those needing work.
3. Target the right buyer segment. Market family houses to young families/commuters; period cottages to couples and buyers seeking character; bungalows to downsizers. Use school catchment and transport links as selling points.

Practical advice — Buyers

1. Be mortgage-ready. Get an Agreement-in-Principle and be prepared to move quickly on strong family homes. Valuations can be conservative — allow a buffer.
2. Check schools & commute. If Imberhorne/other catchments matter, confirm catchment maps and travel times. Factor commuting to Gatwick/London into budgets and times.
3. Use local agents for market intel. Agents often have upcoming stock and local insights that portals don’t show.

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Short-term outlook (next 6–12 months)

• Expect modest movement rather than sharp rises: local prices likely to be flat to modestly up or down depending on mortgage rates, buyer confidence and stock levels. Quality family homes in good locations should remain the most resilient. National commentary warns of cautious valuations but also flags that any easing of rates or improved lending could re-stimulate activity.

If you require any advise or guidance on the local property market or wish to sell a property please get in touch 01342 316 444 www.mayhewestates.co.uk

Scrapping affordability checks for remortgagers will provide access to better deals and increase buyers’ spending power.

The property market is set for a significant boost as the Financial Conduct Authority’s boss Nikhil Rathi  unveils plan to scrap affordability checks for homeowners looking to remortgage, giving them access to potentially cheaper deals and boosting buyer spending power.

The proposed changes are the result of government pressure on the city regulator to loosen its rules to stimulate economic growth. They are intended to inject fresh impetus into the housing market by enhancing competition between lenders and lowering the cost of owning a home.

Cheaper deals

The FCA has launched a consultation on the changes, which would mean lenders would be able to accept new customers who aren’t borrowing additional money without conducting an affordability check, provided they are up-to-date with repayments and offered a rate equal to or better than what they could secure with their existing lender.

According to the FCA’s consultation document: “These reforms would deliver cheaper mortgage deals to consumers by making it easier to shop around.”

Currently, up to 90% of homeowners stay with their existing lender when their deal ends, often because product transfers require less paperwork and no affordability assessments.

These proposals could be transformative for the housing market.”

“These proposals could be transformative for the housing market,” says Chris Mayhew from Mayhews: “This would be a really sensible step that would benefit large numbers of people, particularly during periods of upheaval that seem to be getting more common.”

The increased spending power from cheaper mortgage deals is expected to translate to higher property valuations and increased transaction volumes. Market analysts are predicting that the proposals could create a virtuous cycle where enhanced competition between lenders leads to better mortgage deals, enabling buyers to stretch their budgets further and stimulating movement up and down the property ladder.

This regulatory shift follows earlier FCA guidance in March that allowed lenders to be more flexible with stress testing rules, and many major high street banks have already reduced their criteria.

The consultation remains open until June 4, with the regulator also planning to publish a further discussion paper next month examining “risk appetite” in mortgage lending, assessing the balance between looser affordability rules and potential increases in defaults.

Please get in touch for more advice.