Estate agents Leaders say that Crawley ranks alongside Wigan, Southampton, Stoke and Milton Keynes as first-time buyer hotspots. Crawley’s success is being put down to the fact that house prices in the town are lower than in neighbouring Horsham or East Grinstead with good travel links to London. Leaders say the average price of a flat in Crawley is £196,000 and the cost of an average terraced house is £268,000. Said a spokesman: “Almost eight per cent of homes in Crawley are owned by first-time buyers. “The town offers a more affordable alternative to some of West Sussex’s most popular and sought-after commuter spots such as Horsham and East Grinstead, with the average price of a flat below £200,000. “Residents have the option of taking home a London wage, with Crawley offering a direct rail link to the capital.” And Leaders’ national sales director Kevin Shaw added: “House prices have risen in almost all parts of the country over the last year, which is great news for sellers but makes the task of buying for the first time more difficult. “ First-time buyers should therefore identify towns that offer the best value for money in the wider area. “In many cases, towns that are just a few miles apart offer significantly different market conditions, so each buyer should do their homework to work out how far their budget will go in certain areas.”
