"Now is the time for buyers to take advantage of some significant price reductions and take the opportunity to secure a prime property in some of London’s most desirable areas with reductions of over £300,000 being seen in some postcodes"
- Carlos Mendes - Investec
Investec Bank plc has unveiled its latest findings on London’s prime property market, revealing that £1m+ homes in parts of London often languished on the market for well over six months. Presenting an opportunity for buyers to maximise their value for money in the prime sector, the index shows that prime property across Greater London has typically fallen by over £200,000, with some areas witnessing falls of over £300,000.
Within Greater London, prime properties were selling within 100 days, but significant differences were seen between London postcodes, with South West postcodes offering the most choice for buyers, with the most £1m+ properties for sale. In Bayswater, properties sold in an average of 191 days, Chelsea (SW3) in 130 days and St. John’s Wood (NW8) in 149, compared to those in Hampstead (NW3) that sold in just 79 days.
Average time on the market for £1m+ Homes
W2 (Bayswater) - 191
NW8 (St John’s Wood) - 149
SW3 (Chelsea) - 130
W8 (Kensington) - 128
W11 (Notting Hill) - 114
SW11 (Battersea) - 97
SW6 (Fulham) - 87
NW3 (Hampstead) - 79
Prime property across Greater London typically fell by £200,000, but the index showed substantial price differences across London, with some areas experiencing double-digit falls in prices. Hampstead fell 11.3% (translating to a £305,220 reduction), Bayswater by 10.5% (£261,081 reduction) and Chelsea by 9.7% (£311,266 reduction).
Average Price Reduction £1m+ Homes (by % discount)
NW3 (Hampstead) - £305,220 -11.30%
W2 (Bayswater) - £261,081 -10.50%
SW3 (Chelsea) - £311,266 -9.70%
W8 (Kensington) - £313,245 -9.20%
NW8 (St John’s Wood) - £325,219 -8.40%
SW11 (Battersea) - £153,723 -8.20%
W11 (Notting Hill) - £228,417 -7.70%
SW6 (Fulham) - £150,709 -7.35%
The capital can also be viewed as a patchwork of pockets, each representing distinct individual markets. This diversity presents significant opportunities for buyers willing to adjust their search to postcodes that offer greater value and move just a few streets away; with prime property in Fulham £779 per square foot cheaper last year than in neighbouring Chelsea.
Average Price per Square Foot of £1m+ Homes
SW3 (Chelsea) - £1,934
W8 (Kensington) - £1,863
W2 (Bayswater) - £1,745
W11 (Notting Hill) - £1,692
NW8 (St John’s Wood) - £1,516
NW3 (Hampstead) - £1,349
SW11 (Battersea) - £1,255
SW6 (Fulham) - £1,155
“London offers exceptional value for money for those willing to look just a few roads away from their target postcodes, with prime property often hundreds of pounds cheaper per square foot,” said Carlos Mendes, Private Banker at Investec, adding “Now is the time for buyers to take advantage of some significant price reductions and take the opportunity to secure a prime property in some of London’s most desirable areas with reductions of over £300,000 being seen in some postcodes.
"However, for sellers, it’s essential that they recognise that not all areas moved at the same pace, and pricing strategies need to be flexible if they want to secure a sale.”
