Yorkshire Property Buying Guide

Covering almost 6,000 square miles, Yorkshire is the largest region in the UK. More than five million people call this part of the country home, spread across North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, the East Riding of Yorkshire and West Yorkshire.

 

The region is known for its broad array of post-industrial cities and cultural hotspots, including Leeds, Sheffield and York. It’s also nicknamed ‘God’s Own Country’ on account of its spectacular natural beauty and the contrasting lifestyles you can lead across the area.

 

Packed with stunning national parks, including the Yorkshire Dales, Peak District and North York Moors complementing dynamic city centres and wild coastal landscapes, this is a popular region among homebuyers.

 

Whether you’re searching for property advice for buying in Yorkshire as a second-time buyer or you’re looking to upsize, you can find a complete guide to buying your home here. 

Yorkshire and the Humber is a popular place among second-time buyers and upsizers, thanks to its versatility. The region’s biggest city, Leeds, is foremost in this respect, offering everything from bustling city centre life to outstanding schools and easy access to natural spaces.

 

A recent Boomin study named Pudsey one of the UK’s top up-and-coming property locations, thanks to its strong house prices, low crime rates and local amities. Less than six miles from the heart of Leeds, it has excellent transport links to the city centre, an outstanding local primary school, and has seen the number of people searching for property in the area double as late.

 

Another Leeds suburb, Headingley, also made this list. A hugely popular area among students and young professionals, the booming rental market means Headingley is a wonderful place to invest in property. Whether you’re considering purchasing a bigger home to accommodate your needs or adding to your buy to let portfolio, house prices in Headingley rose by more than 20% between 2016 and 2021.

 

The next suburb along Otley Road from Headingley is Adel, only four miles north of Leeds city centre. A popular neighbourhood among families, house prices in Adel rose by more than 50% from 2011 to 2021. This level of appreciation makes it a great place to invest.

 

Bradford is next door to Leeds in West Yorkshire and is known as one of the region’s most affordable areas to buy a home. This, along with continued plans for redevelopment, makes it one of the best places to invest in property in Yorkshire.

 

Whether you’re focusing on some of the most popular West Yorkshire hotspots or browsing new developments in South Yorkshire, there are many reasons to upsize or invest in a property with us. 

Yorkshire and the Humber has always been an incredibly popular place to live for its vibrant cities, traditional towns and countless villages surrounded by beautiful open countryside. The Coronavirus pandemic saw a significant increase in homebuyers wishing to move into more rural spots with more green spaces to enjoy.

Ilkley

Lying 10 miles north of Bradford and 15 miles north-west of Leeds, this pretty spa town in West Yorkshire is separated from two of the region’s most vibrant cities by the atmospheric Ilkley Moor. Great for going for walks straight from your front door, house prices are boosted by the outstanding local schools.

Bishop Monkton

Regularly ranking among the top 10 places to live in Yorkshire, this attractive village to the north of Harrogate is a lovely place to call home. Ideal for living a rural way of life, transport links are also strong thanks to the A1(M) motorway passing just a few miles to the east.

Hebden Bridge

Seven miles west of Halifax and little more than 20 miles from Manchester, this attractive market town is a staple of any guide to popular areas in Yorkshire. With a host of good local schools and superb commuter links, Hebden Bridge is also popular for its stunning setting within the picturesque Pennines.

As a region that offers such a sweeping variety, Yorkshire is a great place to bring up a family, regardless of the lifestyle you lead. Packed with fun-filled attractions, outstanding schools, healthcare facilities and endless opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors, explore some of the best family-friendly spots in the region.  

Harrogate

As one of Yorkshire’s most desirable places to live, this historic spa town has a lofty reputation as a wonderful area to raise kids. With low crime rates and a strong community feel, there’s also a superb selection of outstanding primary and secondary schools.

York

20 miles east of Harrogate, York ranks among the very best cities for family life in Yorkshire. It is also home to a great collection of outstanding schools and is packed with exciting history and culture. Our excellent The Chocolate Works development lies south of the city centre and provides excellent value for your money.

Barnsley

Regularly cropping up as the best place to live for families in Yorkshire, Barnsley scores highly on local amenities and services, including parks, playgrounds, nurseries and schools, as well as maternity units, NCT groups, shops and chemists.

 

A valuable part of the country for family life, you may even be able to take advantage of our Deposit Unlock for first- and second-time buyers. For second-time buyers, here’s an explanation of how Stamp Duty works. And if you’re looking to upsize or downsize, we are here to help you every step of the way.

 

Ofsted rankings of best schools in Yorkshire

School	Ofsted Rating	Date of Inspection
Birkby Infant and Nursery School	Outstanding	November 2018
St Peter’s Church of England Primary School	Outstanding	December 2020
Feversham Primary Academy	Outstanding	April 2019
Coit Primary School	Outstanding	December 2019
Escrick Church of England Primary School	Outstanding	February 2020
Dixons Trinity Academy	Outstanding	November 2020
Castleford Academy	Outstanding	October 2019
Huntington School	Outstanding	October 2017
Barnsley College	Outstanding	October 2017
Newington Academy	Outstanding	December 2019

The Coronavirus pandemic saw a sea change in people’s attitude to spending time outdoors. Many people came to appreciate the value of countryside environments, and homebuyers felt the need to have better access to open landscapes and nature spots. Yorkshire is home to a wide variety of rural property for sale to cater for all tastes and budgets.

Ripon

Surrounded by some of the most beautiful countryside in England, North Yorkshire’s Ripon is only a short drive or hike from the spectacular Nidderdale AONB. It’s also conveniently located for two of Yorkshire’s three national parks - the North York Moors and the Yorkshire Dales.

Ranmoor

As one of Sheffield’s most affluent suburbs, Ranmoor is an incredibly desirable neighbourhood. Only a couple of miles west of the city centre and not far from Oughtibridge Valley, there’s a host of parks, nature reserves and beauty spots within walking distance, while the Peak District is also right on the doorstep.

Ampleforth

A highly desirable village around 20 miles north of York, Ampleforth lies on the edge of the Howardian Hills, meaning there are endless opportunities for scenic walks. The North York Moors deliver an even larger expanse of open countryside in the opposite direction, with North Riding Forest Park also less than 25 miles away.

Yorkshire and the Humber is a region that truly caters for every lifestyle, from bustling cities such as Leeds and Sheffield to rural villages that open to vast national parks.  

While some areas of Yorkshire are popular for their unspoilt beauty, others are desirable for their excellent transport links. Major motorways, including the M1 and A1(M), connect a host of places to the South and the North East, while the M62 runs west from Hull to Manchester and Liverpool in the North West.

 

Yorkshire is well connected by the national rail network, with Metro services catering for West Yorkshire. Northern Rail services provide direct access to natural highlights, including the Peak District, Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors and the coast.

 

Whether you’re searching for the best property schemes Yorkshire has to offer to buy your second home or investing in your latest buy-to-let property, don’t miss our new homes in Yorkshire.

Buying your home in Leeds

Regarded as West Yorkshire’s leading superpower, Leeds is an exciting, dynamic place to call home. There’s great culture, plenty of local sports and a thriving nightlife scene. Transport links are also strong and include the Leeds City Park and Ride service if you live out of town. Leed’s property market has experienced a rise of more than 50% between 2011 and 2021.

Adel

Adel is only a few miles north of central Leeds and one of the city’s most desirable suburbs. It has a great selection of good and outstanding local schools, while new developments have helped house prices grow by more than 11% between 2019 and 2021.

 

Morley

Morley is an ever-improving area, with a superb selection of outstanding primary and secondary schools, easy access to a host of natural spaces and excellent transport links. Notable as a potential candidate for affordable houses for sale in Leeds, investment prospects are good with an increase in house prices of around 20% between 2016 and 2021.

Buying your home in Sheffield

The Steel City has shed its reputation as a hardy industrial heartland to become a real cultural hotspot and centrepiece of Yorkshire’s urban renewal. Ideal for family life, young professionals and older generations alike, Sheffield property prices rose by around 20% between 2016 and 2021, with semi-detached houses proving most popular among homebuyers.

Oughtibridge

Found on the north-west outskirts of Sheffield, this pleasant village sits astride the River Don and boasts superb access to wide open landscapes. If you’re looking for Sheffield property to buy for investment purposes, you’ll be pleased to know that house prices grew by around 20% between 2016 and 2021. Our Oughtibridge Valley development has supplied a fantastic collection of new homes to this area.

Rotherham

 

Only around five miles from the centre of Sheffield, Rotherham is a more affordable place to buy a home in South Yorkshire. The town still enjoys many of the same perks, including superb access to the countryside and highly-regarded school. Property prices increased by almost 20% between 2016 and 2021. 

Buying your home in Bradford

Next door to Leeds and Halifax in West Yorkshire, Bradford offers the best of all worlds. This multicultural city has great schools, transport links and access to open landscapes. Our property buying guide in Bradford reveals that local house prices rose by around 20% between 2016 and 2021.

Pudsey

As one of the country’s most exciting areas to keep an eye on in terms of the local property market, house prices in Pudsey increased by more than 20% from 2016 to 2021. Ideally located between Bradford and Leeds, there’s an outstanding local primary school for little ones to attend and a grammar school in town for older children.

Buying your home in Hull

Lying on the northern shore of the Humber not far from England’s east coast, Hull offers city centre living and a collection of suburbs all close to swathes of beautiful open scenery. Whether you’re exploring the North York Moors to the north or spending time along the North Sea coastline, Hull is a brilliant place to call home. Property prices in this part of East Yorkshire rose by almost 20% between 2016 and 2021.

Cottingham

Cottingham recorded an increase in house prices of a little over 10% between 2016 and 2021. This northern suburb has its own train station with services into the city centre taking less than 10 minutes, along with a choice of outstanding local primary schools.

Hessle

Any guide to buying in Hull will include Hessle among the areas to consider. Sitting right on the water close to the Humber Bridge, house prices grew by around 20% between 2016 and 2021.

Buying your home in Middlesbrough

Known for its natural beauty and friendly vibes, the Tees Valley is a great place to live in. Despite property prices rising by a little over 15% between 2016 and 2021, homes in Middlesbrough are still regarded as more affordable than in the rest of North Yorkshire.

Nunthorpe

Lying on the southern outskirts of Middlesbrough, Nunthorpe offers excellent access to the town centre thanks to its train station, as well as the coast and the surrounding countryside and North York Moors to the south. Local house prices rose by more than 30% between 2011 and 2021. Browse our fantastic Grey Towers Village development for a collection of sophisticated 4 and 5 bedroom homes.

Buying your home in Huddersfield

Offering a superb location within West Yorkshire, Huddersfield house prices are more affordable than in some of its neighbouring towns and cities, despite being up of more than 20% between 2016 and 2021.

Honley

Just a few miles south of Huddersfield, this rural village has a great location on the edge of the Pennines. The Peak District lies to the south, while good and outstanding local schools make the new homes at Scotgate Ridge highly desirable.