Every week brings a new headline for the housing market. A week or two ago, one group of experts was confidently predicting a 10% fall in house prices this year; yet in the last few days a different statistical survey suggested the opposite, and claimed in fact that asking prices are already 1.9% higher than they were before March and denying any signs of a price dip.
Whenever such predictions are so wildly at odds with each other, the inference is simple: nobody has a clue. If studying medieval history for four years taught me anything, it's that the true impact of things is never understood while they're still going on, and often not for many years afterwards.
But of all the best-guess predictions we've seen so far in 2020, the one which most rings true is that house buyers will increasingly look to swap city for countryside. The increasing urbanisation of the population witnessed over the last two centuries can't continue (it'd mean a Blade Runner-style future if it did) indefinitely; the virus feels like the tipping point to being reversing that process.
And so it is that one of the more unusual pieces of research we've seen this year will be of huge interest to many buyers: a look at places which offer super-fast broadband for easy working from home, while also offering plenty of beautiful places nearby.
The question is, how do you put these together? The Highlands ticks the boxes for natural beauty, but fails at broadband speed. Remote coastal cottages in Devon or Cornwall fall into the same category. So rather than pick obvious-but-remote beauty spots, a new study commissioned by mojomortgages.com decided to look at places with decent broadband and a good number of National Trust properties to visit nearby.
Of course, it's hardly a flawless system, but it's not a bad idea at all, and it threw up some interesting results — and some places which many might not have thought of. Here's the top 10, with a few examples of places you could buy in the environs:
Falkirk
Average internet speed in Mbps: 80.5; National Trust properties nearby: 22
What you could buy: An eight-bedroom detached house at £730,000 via Rettie
Llanelli
Average internet speed in Mbps: 37.8; National Trust properties nearby: 11
Darlington
Average internet speed in Mbps: 83.8; National Trust properties nearby: 8
Stirling
Average internet speed in Mbps: 35.4; National Trust properties nearby: 26
What you could buy: This four-bedroom villa at £370,000 via Aberdein Considine
Scunthorpe
Average internet speed in Mbps: 79.3; National Trust properties nearby: 7
Halesowen
Average internet speed in Mbps: 76.1; National Trust properties nearby: 28
What you could buy: This four-bedroom house with beautiful garden at £795,000 via Lex Allan Grove
Dumfries
Average internet speed in Mbps: 34.3; National Trust properties nearby: 41
Dunfermline
Average internet speed in Mbps: 51.2; National Trust properties nearby: 60
Huddersfield
Average internet speed in Mbps: 79; National Trust properties nearby: 40
What you could buy: This huge country pile via Simon Blyth is up for sale at £1.25 million
Inverness
Average internet speed in Mbps: 35.7; National Trust properties nearby: 42
50 best places to live near London
The indispensable guide for getting into the country without ending up out of touch with the town.
-
A billionaire's thatched cottage is for sale in Surrey, once owned by the oil magnate J. Paul GettyChestnut Cottage is a joyous little home — albeit one with the most unusual bedrooms to acreage to price balances we've ever seen. Toby Keel takes a look inside.
-
Debo Mitford on her childhood at Asthall Manor, from Nancy's 'coming out' dance to Unity's peach-pinching waysThe Dowager Duchess of Devonshire looks back on her childhood in the Cotswold idyll of Asthall Manor.
-
A billionaire's thatched cottage is for sale in Surrey, once owned by the oil magnate J. Paul Getty
Chestnut Cottage is a joyous little home — albeit one with the most unusual bedrooms to acreage to price balances we've ever seen. Toby Keel takes a look inside.
-
Medieval Italian? 19th century French? 16th century German? You're spoilt for choice if you're looking to buy a gorgeous continental castleFrom hills of Italy to a Bavarian palace, Toby Keel takes a look at three of the finest castles for sale across Europe today.
-
How to buy a house at auctionBuying at auction can mean you secure your dream property for a bargain price, but preparation is the key
-
The homes of two 1980s TV icons are both up for sale at the same timeThe houses where Bob Monkhouse and Sir Terry Wogan spent decades of their lives are currently on the market. Annabel Dixon takes a look.
-
Living on the edge? A lighthouse for sale on a clifftop on one of the most remote islands in BritainBressay Lighthouse was built by the father and uncle of the 'Treasure Island' author.
-
Alan Titchmarsh is selling his Hampshire home (and the garden that comes with it): Exclusive pictures and interviewAfter many happy years in Hampshire, the writer, broadcaster and national treasure Alan Titchmarsh is selling up and looking to move. He spoke to Penny Churchill about his years at Manor Farm House.
-
A Lake District escape with views that will make you feel like the king of all you can seeMellguards's many guest rooms and dual staircases make this property perfect for people who love to host, but tire of their guests quickly.
-
One of Yorkshire's great houses, burnt to the ground three generations ago, is back on its feet and on the market for the sixth time in a millenniumPenny Churchill looks at Riseborough Hall, a great house, rich with fascinating history and beautifully apportioned, which burnt to the ground but rose again.
