| Southampton is located on the South coast of | | | | be The Polygon, Shirley, Portswood, Basset and |
| England, 80 miles South West of London. Historically | | | | Swathling. |
| Southampton has been a port city and today the | | | | The area of Totton is a favourite for young families. |
| port still plays a large part in Southampton's economy. | | | | It has a good number of houses which are relatively |
| However there is now quite a clear separation | | | | good value. Although technically Totton falls under |
| between the port and the City. | | | | the New Forest many of its residents work and shop |
| The City is in quite an envious location. The south | | | | in Southampton. |
| coast benefits from a mild climate and the area has | | | | The suburb of Chilworth has mostly large detached |
| one of the highest levels of sunshine in the UK. | | | | homes and is a desirable area to live. A number of |
| Southampton has very good transport links with the | | | | properties in this area are valued at well over |
| M27/M3 motorway linking Southampton to London. | | | | £1 million. |
| Train service operates between Southampton and | | | | Southampton's coastal position has been taken |
| London Waterloo. The City also has its own airport | | | | advantage of by the Ocean Village development. This |
| with flight to many regional and international | | | | is a new and trendy sea front development with |
| destinations. Southampton has good shopping and | | | | some great views to sea or over its own marina. |
| leisure facilities. | | | | There are still a number of properties being sold in |
| All this makes Southampton a desirable place to live | | | | this development. |
| and as such house prices have increased by slightly | | | | Like the rest of the South East there has been, and |
| more than the national average. The average house | | | | still is, an aggressive house building program taking |
| price in 1995 was £60,000 and this has | | | | place. The availability of new houses are not |
| increased to just over £200,000 today. Prices | | | | predicated to affect house prices in Southampton in |
| are lower than some areas of the South East and | | | | the short term. Demand is expected to remain high. |
| good deals are still available for house buyers. | | | | The City is attracting a large number of people |
| There are a total of around 96,000 houses in | | | | moving from London, as well as a good number of |
| Southampton one third of which are flats, one third | | | | European immigrants. This increase in population |
| terraced homes and the balance are semi's or | | | | should keep house prices buoyant. |
| detached houses. This split favours young families as | | | | In all I believe Southampton offers the home buyer |
| there is a good supply of houses. The rental market | | | | good value for money, a property which should hold |
| in Southampton is relatively buoyant and with a | | | | its value and above all a great place to live. If it's a |
| student population of 22,000 there is opportunity for | | | | buy-to-let investment Southampton offers many |
| the buy-to-let investor. In fact many of the flats in | | | | opportunities be it student accommodation or an |
| Southampton are held as buy-to-let properties. Areas | | | | executive flat. |
| to consider for student buy-to-let investments would | | | | |