Leading buying agency Black Brick is urging investors and second-home buyers to capitalise on what it describes as a “rare moment of market advantage” across the West Country, as softening demand creates a short-term window of opportunity.
Following its strategic expansion into Cornwall last year, the firm has sounded the alarm for those eyeing the South West’s prime property sector.
Anna Sharp, Head of Black Brick’s Country & Coast division, says: “We’re in an all-time low for high-quality, proceedable buyers.
“Seller expectations have finally caught up with market reality—and for serious buyers, that spells opportunity.”
PAUSE IN DEMAND
Sharp points to a noticeable pause in demand across Cornwall’s luxury segment, driven in part by economic uncertainty and interest rate volatility.
But she warns the lull will be short-lived.
“There’s significant pent-up demand waiting to be unleashed,” she says. “The next interest rate cut could be the trigger. Once that happens, we expect competition – and prices – to rise sharply.”
The slowdown, she adds, has shifted power decisively into buyers’ hands.
“Right now, we’re negotiating some incredible deals – opportunities that simply weren’t available 12 or even six months ago.”
GOLDEN MOMENT
That sentiment is echoed across the region.
Rupert Stephenson, Black Brick’s Regional Director for Devon, Somerset and Dorset, says the current landscape presents a “golden moment” for clients to secure both on- and off-market deals in the West Country.
He says: “With so much global and domestic uncertainty, our clients increasingly view the West Country as a stable, high-quality lifestyle investment.
“From the rolling hills of Devon to the coastlines of Dorset, the market is wide open. But it won’t stay that way.”
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
Not all areas are experiencing the same conditions. Cities like Bath and Bristol, with strong transport links and year-round demand, continue to perform well.
However, coastal towns such as Salcombe and Poole have been hit by changes to council tax rules and the removal of interest relief on second homes – shifts that have, temporarily at least, put buyers back in control.
“These are still premium locations,” Stephenson says. “The fundamentals remain incredibly strong. But right now, buyers who are ready to move can negotiate terms that were unimaginable two years ago.”
MAGNET FOR INVESTORS
From fisherman’s cottages in Port Isaac starting at £280,000 to more substantial homes across St Ives and beyond, the South West is proving a magnet for investors seeking long-term value and lifestyle buyers looking to escape the city.
“Estate agents are actively seeking motivated purchasers,” says Sharp. “It’s rare to have this much leverage in such desirable postcodes.”
Black Brick, known for its track record in securing access to off-market deals and acting solely in the buyer’s interest, says the next few months may mark the best buying conditions seen in the region for years. “This isn’t just a good time to buy,” Sharp concluded. “It may be the best we’ll see for quite some time.”
