Detached living…doesn’t have to be a property fantasy - June 20

Detached homes are often sought after, particularly when a family is involved. They offer privacy and often bags of space. However, the fantasy home that for so long has been dominated by the stereotypical image of cosy child-centred bliss, is now attracting a surprisingly different type of buyer.

Thanks to space-hungry singles/young professionals wanting to break free of the one-bedroom apartment, the detached house is experiencing a fresh demand from buyers who are looking for room to hold dinner parties and to invest their disposable incomes that are still undiminished by demands from children.

“A string of recent surveys suggest that apartment living is no longer matching the needs of these buyers, and in fact it is these young buyers - the very people who are supposed to want city centre apartments – that say they prefer houses,” says David Mackintosh, sales and marketing director from Portford Homes.

“We have come a long way from the idea that singles eat out of the microwave and get their entertainment from the television. On the contrary: they want smart, family-size kitchens with room to sit around and drink coffee with friends.

“They don't just use their houses to sleep in, but maybe to have breakfast and dinner meetings, or to work at home. They might need a study - somewhere to do their hobbies. Often they want great master bedrooms with an ensuite, while other bedrooms are turned into flexible living areas."

“New apartments have been dominating the market,” continues David Mackintosh. “So much so, that the housing mix has become distorted resulting in a shortage at one end of the market and an oversupply at the other. This means that detached houses have become even more prized.

"I believe we have been through the apartment cycle in the UK and now it is houses we need. While apartments have their place for first time buyers, the market demand has shifted and we are finding buyers are turning to Portford Homes looking for more space, additional storage facilities and flexible layouts.”

Meeting the demands of its buyers, Portford Homes is offering a choice of superior four-bedroom detached homes along with three and four-bedroom townhouses at Chantry Square in Wakefield.

The housebuilder is also very much aware that what homebuyers want and what they can realistically afford in terms of overall cost and mortgage repayments in today’s market are two very different things. And that is why at Chantry Square buyers can make the most of a range of easy-moving incentives including cash discounts, home exchange, 5% deposit paid or the chance to live mortgage free for six months.

Just minutes from Wakefield’s city centre, Chantry Square enjoys an ideal location. For more information about availability and prices contact Portford Homes on 01924 335861