New homes snapshot – buyer and investor options in Merseyside under £180,000

Though talk of the ‘Northern Powerhouse’ has diminished somewhat since its champion George Osborne departed the Cabinet this summer, there’s no doubt that Liverpool and Merseyside in general is still a strong property market – though there’s still plenty to buy and invest in for those on a modest budget.

Its role as European Capital of Culture in 2008 drew international attention, and the significant regeneration of the city centre and docks area continues to bring in global investment. Its role as ‘Europe’s first Chinatown’, with a 200-year connection with the Far East, is today making it a particularly interesting target for money coming in from investors in China.

Liverpool is a very popular student city too, with three universities and a number of other higher education centres providing around 70,000 people looking for accommodation, a huge potential for investors. It is often cited as one of the best-performing cities in terms of annual yields for investors.

The city’s appeal to the private rented sector (PRS) – a part of property development considered key to Britain tackling its dearth of homes – led to a commitment of £1bn to the region in that part of the property market from NatWest. This will continue an ambitious plan to build thousands of homes across the city

Heath Thomas, head of real estate finance North West at the bank, said: “We are already providing financing support to a number of leading developers and look forward to working with other sponsors across the country and in Merseyside.”

New homes currently for sale in Merseyside: 

Help to Buy, Part Exchange and Movermaker schemes are offered by Barratt Homes at its Imagine Park development in Speke, just a few minutes from John Lennon Airport in Speke. There are two-, three- and four-bedroom homes to choose from, and three show homes to inspire visitors to the site. Prices start at £166,995, though the up-front price comes down 20% if you use the Help to Buy scheme. These new homes are just 15 minutes from the M57/M62 and 25 minutes from the centre of Liverpool. 

Morris Homes is busy in St Helens with a mix of 87 two-, three- and four-bedroom homes under construction at Victoria Gardens. The area is well connected to major cities and road, with Lea Green railway station just three miles away. Buyers will appreciate the choice of schools in the area and the availability of a number of purchase schemes to get the property they want, including Part Exchange and Help to Buy. 

The fourth phase of new homes is now for sale at The Parks, in Anfield, from Keepmoat. There’s a mix of two- and three-bedroom properties, with Help to Buy and deals for first-time buyers and investors available. Stanley Park, the race course and the city’s two Premier League teams are all within easy reach, as are schools and universities. The city centre and Royal Hospital are both just three miles away.

On the coast north of Liverpool is Crosby, where McCarthy & Stone is building a collection of one- and two-bedroom retirement living apartments from £159,999 and £214,999 respectively, which includes access to a number of communal facilities too. Grove Court’s homes are designed specifically for retirees and there is a chance to look around in detail at an Open Day even from 11.00am to 3.00pm on Thursday 3 November. 

For buy-to-let investors, Aspen Woolf is offering a modest-budget option at Strand Plaza, a waterfront development of apartments in Liverpool. Prices start at £98,603, with a 6.5% net return guaranteed for the first two years. The apartments come with a concierge service and great spec, and the option of furniture packs, have a very modern design and are located close to the Liverpool One shopping centre and Royal Liver Building.

There’s another city centre investment option from Investium Realty at New Chinatown, an impressive regeneration project that will offer apartments, duplexes and townhouses, with prices currently starting at £119,211 and guaranteed returns of 7% over the first two years. The project will bring nearly 800 new homes to the heart of Liverpool, with a spa and concierge service available to residents.